PPLETONS'  HOME 
READING  BOOKS 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2008  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/crusoesislandbirOOoberrich 


Hppletons'  Ibome  IReabing  3BooI?6 

EDITED    BY 
WILLIAM  T.   HARRIS,   A.M.,   LL.  D. 

UNITED  STATES  COMMISSIONER  OF  EDUCATION 


DIVISION   I 

Natural  History 


APPLETONS'  HOME  READING  BOOKS 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND 

A   BIRD-HUNTER'S  STORY 


BY 

FREDERICK  A.   OBER 

AUTHOR    OF    CAMPS    IN    THE    CARIBBEES,    TRAVELS 

IN    MEXICO,    IN    THE    WAKE    OF    COLUMBUS, 

A    LIFE    OF  JOSEPHINE,    ETC. 


NEW  YORK 
D.   APPLETON   AND  COMPANY 

1898 


Copyright,  1898, 
By  D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY. 


GIFI 


fZ//C 


ll)e  iHetnora  of 
tng  iratl)er. 


274 


INTEODUCTION  TO  THE  HOME  EEADING 
BOOK  SEEIES  BY  THE  EDITOE. 


The  new  education  takes  two  important  direc- 
tions— one  of  these  is  toward  original  observation, 
requiring  the  pupil  to  test  and  verify  what  is  taught 
him  at  school  by  his  own  experiments.  The  infor- 
mation that  he  learns  from  books  or  hears  from  his 
teacher's  lips  must  be  assimilated  by  incorporating  it 
with  his  own  experience. 

The  other  direction  pointed  out  by  the  new  edu- 
cation is  systematic  home  reading.  It  forms  a  part  of 
school  extension  of  all  kinds.  The  so-called  "  Univer- 
sity Extension  "  that  originated  at  Cambridge  and  Ox- 
ford has  as  its  chief  feature  the  aid  of  home  reading  by 
lectures  and  round-table  discussions,  led  or  conducted 
by  experts  who  also  lay  out  the  course  of  reading. 
The  Chautauquan  movement  in  this  country  prescribes 
a  series  of  excellent  books  and  furnishes  for  a  goodly 
number  of  its  readers  annual  courses  of  lectures.  The 
teachers'  reading  circles  that  exist  in  many  States  pre- 
scribe the  books  to  be  read,  and  publish  some  analysis, 
commentary,  or  catechism  to  aid  the  members. 

Home  reading,  it  seems,  furnishes  the  essential 
basis  of  this  great  movement  to  extend  education 


viii  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

beyond  the  school  and  to  make  self -culture  a  habit 
of  Ufe. 

Looking  more  carefully  at  the  difference  between 
the  two  directions  of  the  new  education  we  can  see 
what  each  accompHshes.  There  is  first  an  effort  to 
train  the  original  powers  of  the  individual  and  make 
him  seK-active,  quick  at  observation,  and  free  in  his 
thinking.  Next,  the  new  education  endeavors,  by  the 
reading  of  books  and  the  study  of  the  wisdom  of  the 
race,  to  make  the  child  or  youth  a  participator  in  the 
results  of  experience  of  all  mankind. 

These  two  movements  may  be  made  antagonistic 
by  poor  teaching.  The  book  knowledge,  containing  as 
it  does  the  precious  lesson  of  human  experience,  may 
be  so  taught  as  to  bring  with  it  only  dead  rules  of 
conduct,  only  dead  scraps  of  information,  and  no 
stimulant  to  original  thinking.  Its  contents  may  be 
memorized  without  being  understood.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  self -activity  of  the  child  may  be  stimulated 
at  the  expense  of  his  social  well-being — his  originality 
may  be  cultivated  at  the  expense  of  his  rationality. 
If  he  is  taught  persistently  to  have  his  own  way,  to 
trust  only  his  own  senses,  to  cling  to  his  own  opinions 
heedless  of  the  experience  of  his  fellows,  he  is  pre- 
paring for  ail  unsuccessful,  misanthropic  career,  and 
is  likely  enough  to  end  his  life  in  a  madhouse. 

It  is  admitted  that  a  too  exclusive  study  of  the 
knowledge  found  in  books,  the  knowledge  which  is 
aggregated  from  the  experience  and  thought  of  other 
people,  may  result  in  loading  the  mind  of  the  pupil 
with  material  which  he  can  not  use  to  advantage. 


EDITOR'S  INTRODUCTION.  ix 

Some  minds  are  so  full  of  lumber  that  there  is  no 
space  left  to  set  up  a  workshop.  The  necessity  of 
uniting  both  of  these  directions  of  intellectual  activity 
in  the  schools  is  therefore  obvious,  but  we  must  not, 
in  this  place,  fall  into  the  error  of  supposing  that  it  is 
the  oral  instruction  in  school  and  the  personal  influ- 
ence of  the  teacher  alone  that  excites  the  pupil  to  ac- 
tivity. Book  instruction  is  not  always  dry  and  theo- 
retical. The  very  persons  who  declaim  against  the 
book,  and  praise  in  such  strong  terms  the  self -activity 
of  the  pupil  and  original  research,  are  mostly  persons 
who  have  received  their  practical  impulse  from  read- 
ing the  writings  of  educational  reformers.  Very  few 
persons  have  received  an  impulse  from  personal  con- 
tact with  inspiring  teachers  compared  with  the  num- 
ber that  have  received  an  impulse  from  such  books  as 
Herbert  Spencer's  Treatise  on  Education,  Rousseau's 
Emile,  Pestalozzi's  Leonard  and  Gertrude,  Francis 
W.  Parker's  Talks  about  Teaching,  G.  Stanley 
Hall's  Pedagogical  Seminary.  Think  in  this  connec- 
tion, too,  of  the  impulse  to  observation  in  natural  sci- 
ence produced  by  such  books  as  those  of  Hugh  Miller, 
Faraday,  Tyndall,  Huxley,  Agassiz,  and  Darwin. 

The  new  scientific  book  is  different  from  the  old. 
The  old  style  book  of  science  gave  dead  results  where 
the  new  one  gives  not  only  the  results,  but  a  minute 
account  of  the  method  employed  in  reaching  those  re- 
sults. An  insight  into  the  method  employed  in  dis- 
covery trains  the  reader  into  a  naturalist,  an  historian, 
a  sociologist.  The  books  of  the  writers  above  named 
have  done  more  to  stimulate  original  research  on  the 


X  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

part  of  their  readers  than  all  other  influences  com- 
bined. 

It  is  therefore  much  more  a  matter  of  importance 
to  get  the  right  kind  of  book  than  to  get  a  living 
teacher.  The  book  which  teaches  results,  and  at  the 
same  time  gives  in  an  intelligible  manner  the  steps  of 
discovery  and  the  methods  employed,  is  a  book 
which  will  stimulate  the  student  to  repeat  the  ex- 
periments described  and  get  beyond  these  into  fields 
of  original  research  himself.  Every  one  remem- 
bers the  published  lectures  of  Faraday  on  chemistry, 
which  exercised  a  wide  influence  in  changing  the  style 
of  books  on  natural  science,  causing  them  to  deal 
with  method  more  than  results,  and  thus  to  train 
the  reader's  power  of  conducting  original  research. 
Robinson  Crusoe  for  nearly  two  hundred  years  has 
stimulated  adventure  and  prompted  young  men  to 
resort  to  the  border  lands  of  civilization.  A  library 
of  home  reading  should  contain  books  that  stimulate 
to  self -activity  and  arouse  the  spirit  of  inquiry.  The 
books  should  treat  of  methods  of  discovery  and  evo- 
lution. All  nature  is  unified  by  the  discovery  of 
the  law  of  evolution.  Each  and  every  being  in  the 
world  is  now  explained  by  the  process  of  development 
to  which  it  belongs.  Every  fact  now  throws  light  on 
all  the  others  by  illustrating  the  process  of  growth  in 
which  each  has  its  end  and  aim. 

The  Home  Reading  Books  are  to  be  classed  as 
follows : 

First  Division,  Natural  history,  including  popular 
scientific  treatises  on  plants  and  animals,  and  also  de- 


EDITOR'S  INTRODUCTION.  xi 

scriptions  of  geographical  localities.  The  branch  of 
study  in  the  district  school  course  which  corresponds 
to  this  is  geography.  Travels  and  sojourns  in  distant 
lands;  special  writings  which  treat  of  this  or  that 
animal  or  plant,  or  family  of  animals  or  plants ;  any- 
thing that  relates  to  organic  nature  or  to  meteorol- 
ogy, or  descriptive  astronomy  may  be  placed  in  this 
class. 

Second  Division.  Whatever  relates  to  physics  or 
natural  philosophy,  to  the  statics  or  dynamics  of  air  or 
water  or  hght  or  electricity,  or  to  the  properties  of 
matter ;  whatever  relates  to  chemistry,  either  organic 
or  inorganic — books  on  these  subjects  belong  to  the 
class  that  relates  to  what  is  inorganic.  Even  the  so- 
called  organic  chemistry  relates  to  the  analysis  of 
organic  bodies  into  their  inorganic  compounds. 

Third  Division,  History  and  biography  and  eth- 
nology. Books  relating  to  the  lives  of  individuals,  and 
especially  to  the  social  life  of  the  nation,  and  to  the 
collisions  of  nations  in  war,  as  well  as  to  the  aid  that 
one  gives  to  another  through  commerce  in  times  of 
peace;  books  on  ethnology  relating  to  the  manners 
and  customs  of  savage  or  civilized  peoples ;  books  on 
the  primitive  manners  and  customs  which  belong  to 
the  earliest  human  beings — ^books  on  these  subjects  be- 
long to  the  third  class,  relating  particularly  to  the  hu- 
man will,  not  merely  the  individual  will  but  the  social 
will,  the  will  of  the  tribe  or  nation ;  and  to  this  third 
class  belong  also  books  on  ethics  and  morals,  and  on 
forms  of  government  and  laws,  and  what  is  included 
under  the  term  civics  or  the  duties  of  citizenship.    . 


xii  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

Fourth  Division,  The  fourth  class  of  books  in- 
cludes more  especially  literature  and  works  that  make 
known  the  beautiful  in  such  departments  as  sculpture, 
painting,  architecture  and  music.  Literature  and  art 
show  human  nature  in  the  form  of  f eeUngs,  emotions, 
and  aspirations,  and  they  show  how  these  feelings 
lead  over  to  deeds  and  to  clear  thoughts.  This  de- 
partment of  books  is  perhaps  more  important  than 
any  other  in  our  home  reading,  inasmuch  as  it  teaches 
a  knowledge  of  human  nature  and  enables  us  to  un- 
derstand the  motives  that  lead  our  fellow-men  to 
action. 

To  each  book  is  added  an  analysis  in  order  to  aid 
the  reader  in  separating  the  essential  points  from  the 
unessential,  and  give  each  its  proper  share  of'  atten- 
tion. 

W.  T.  Hakeis. 

Washington,  D.  C,  November  16, 1896, 


PKEFACE. 


The  various  haps  and  mishaps  herein  related  oc- 
curred at  a  time  so  remote  that  now,  in  retrospection, 
they  appear  to  me  Hke  the  doings  of  some  one  else, 
or  at  least  of  my  own  in  another  state  of  existence ; 
for  I  was  then  nineteen  years  younger  than  at  the 
moment  of  penning  these  lines.  The  world  was  all 
before  me,  mine  but  to  conquer,  and  alluring  Hope 
was  ever  beckoning  me  on  from  one  achievement  to 
another. 

My  exploration  of  Crusoe's  isle  was  not  altogether 
fortuitous,  since  I  had  it  in  mind  for  many  years  and 
had  already  equipped  myself  for  the  attempt  by  pre- 
vious endeavor  in  related  fields.  Sent  out  to  make 
an  ornithological  investigation  of  the  Lesser  Antilles, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  I 
found  myself  at  the  termination  of  my  labors  craving 
new  worlds  to  conquer  and  a  wider  range  of  observa- 
tion. Then  occurred  to  me  the  dream  of  my  youth, 
my  determination  to  search  out  the  truth  respecting  a 
hero  of  my  earlier  years,  one  Eobinson  Crusoe,  mari- 
ner, who,  it  appeared  to  me,  had  long  lain  under  a 


XIV  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

cloud  of  misrepresentation — ^that  is,  he  had  been  con- 
founded with  one  Alexander  Selkirk,  and  the  scenes 
of  their  respective  adventures  somehow  most  woeful- 
ly mixed. 

It  was  not  from  a  desire,  whether  laudable  or 
otherwise,  to  rehabilitate  either  one  of  these  worthies, 
nor  to  set  myself  up  as  a  meddlesome  iconoclast, 
that  I  undertook  to  disentangle  the  woof  of  fiction 
from  the  warp  of  truth.  It  was,  in  fact,  nothing  less 
than  a  love  of  adventure  and  an  excuse  for  indulging 
in  it,  that  led  me  to  dwell  alone  in  an  island,  remote 
from  home  and  friends.  The  love  for  adventure  was 
bom  in  me ;  the  excuse  was  necessary  to  placate  the 
outraged  sensibihties  of  the  staid  community  in  which 
my  boyhood  had  been  passed,  where  any  departure 
from  prescribed  custom  was  frowned  upon  and  any 
yielding  to  sentiment  severely  reprobated. 

However  that  may  have  been,  and  however  ready 
others  will  be  to  proscribe  me  for  having  invaded  the 
sacred  precincts  of  the  past,  I  would  call  attention  to 
the  fact  that  I  have  not  sought  to  destroy  any  precon- 
ceived idol  of  the  popular  mind,  only  to  restore  it  to 
its  proper  niche ! 

In  a  word,  ever  since  Defoe  gave  to  the  world  his 
inimitable  creation,  Robinson  Crusoe,  his  readers  (and 
there  have  been  millions  of  them)  have  persisted  in 
locating  the  chief  character  of  the  immortal  work  in 
a  different  part  of  the  world  from  that  which  the  au- 
thor intended. 

Not  that  it  makes  any  great  difference ;  but  since 
I  happened  to  have  discovered  the  truth  (or  in  com- 


PREFACE.  XV 

moil  with  a  few  others  to  have  perceived  it),  I  deem 
it  desirable  to  pubhsh  the  fact.  As  proof  of  my 
statement  that  Crusoe's  island  lies  north  of  the  equa- 
tor, instead  of  to  the  south  of  it,  the  following  pages 
are  offered  in  evidence. 

And  in  these  pages  I  proffer  a  description  of  the 
veritable  island  in  which  Robinson  Crusoe  lived  his 
lonely  life,  the  scene  of  his  wreck,  his  cave,  his  bower, 
his  Man  Friday ;  the  birds  and  trees  he  saw  or  ought 
to  have  seen,  together  with  a  narrative  of  the  author's 
own  experience  in  the  wilderness  of  Tobago. 

Various  quotations  from  Crusoe  have  been  used, 
which,  together  with  the  internal  evidence  of  the  book 
itself,  seem  to  show  conclusively  that  the  island  of  his 
exile  was  not  Juan  Fernandez  in  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
but  Tobago  in  the  Caribbean  Sea,  not  far  distant 
from  the  north  coast  of  South  America. 

In  very  truth,  if  the  vessel  in  which  Crusoe  was 
wrecked  had  sailed  only  a  little  farther  to  the  north- 
ward, and  if  he  himself  had  but  lived  a  little  later 
(say  a  century  or  so),  he  might  have  been  claimed  as 
a  fellow-citizen,  by  the  inhabitants  of  our  great  com- 
monwealth, the  prototype  of  which  he  founded  on 
his  island,  in  his  latter  years. 

Frederick  A.  Ober. 
New  York,  October,  1897, 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 

I. — How   I    FOUND   THE    ISLAND 

IT. — Enemies  ashore  and  afloat  . 
in. — First  day  in  the  forest 
IV. — The  King  of  the  Woods 
V. — Jacamars,  parrots,  and  trogons  . 
VI. — Some  queer  and  troublesome  neighbors 
VII. — How  I  caught  a  Tartar 
VIII. — My  happy  family     .... 
IX. — Jumbo-Jocko  and  the  cockerricos 
X.— My  friends  Pomona  and  Ceres    . 
XI. — My  home  on  the  hilltop 
XII. — Home  of  the  humming  birds 
XIII. — The  manakins'  aerial  dance 
XIV. — I  light  the  fragant  fire     . 
XV. — Trees  of  the  tropical  forest 
XVI. — All  about  Crusoe's  Man  Friday 
XVII. — Treed  by  wild  peccaries     . 
XVIII. — Jimcrack  and  the  jumbies    . 
XIX. — The  devotion  of  Thomas  Ned 
XX. — A  visit  to  the  world  outside 
XXI. — The  fatness  of  the  earth    . 
XXII. — After  the  hurricane    . 
XXIII. — Thomas  Ned  finds  a  pearl  of  price 

Appendix 

Index        

xvii 


PAGE 

1 

10 

18 

27 

36 

48 

58 

66 

74 

85 

97 

106 

116 

122 

131 

142 

156 

165 

180 

194 

208 

220 

234 

247 

275 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

Scarborough,  capital  of  Tobago       .        .        .     Frontispiece 

Map  of  South  America *xxii 

The  shipwreck  . 5 

Approach  to  Tobago 9 

My  hut  on  the  beach 11 

The  "  gray  ghost " .        .        .16 

Crusoe,  as  described  by  himself        .        .        .        .        .        .19 

Nest  of  the  cassican 23 

The  crested  cassican 25 

A  forest  pool .        .        .29 

The  King  of  the  Woods 34 

The  jacamar 39 

The  Tobago  trogon 42 

Royal  trogon  of  Mexico 46 

Reading  by  the  fireflies'  light 50 

An  army  of  ants 53 

Parrots  of  Tobago 63 

A  pair  of  agoutis 67 

The  tropic  bird 70 

The  cockerrico 77 

Jumbo- Jocko,  the  great  boa 81 

Cacao  tree  and  fruit 87 

Cassava  cakes  out  to  dry 92 

Pineapple  plants 95 

My  home  on  the  Plilltop 100 

Sicklebill  humming  birds Ill 

xix 


XX  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

PAGE 

Dancing  manakins 119 

Scissorstails       .        .        .        .  , 124 

Wrens  fighting  a  whipsnake 128 

Grugru  palras 134 

Native  huts  and  trees 138 

Distant  view  of  Tobago 141 

Crusoe  rescues  "  Friday  " 143 

Caribs  of  the  West  Indies .146 

Carib  implements  of  stone 148 

A  group  of  Caribs 151 

Young  Carib  girl 153 

A  Carib  "  thunderbolt  '* 155 

Treed  by  the  peccaries 161 

My  "  Man  Friday  " 175 

Gathering  cocoanuts 183 

Noosing  the  iguana 189 

An  Obeah  charm 192 

Crusoe's  ship — from  his  own  book 205 

Man-o'-war  Bay,  Tobago 207 

The  armadillo  * 216 

Carib  arrowroot  mill 225 

A  fish  for  a  fishhook 228 

Remoras  and  shark 230 

Bird-spider  and  lizard 232 

In  the  devilfish's  coils 240 

The  grave  beneath  the  palms 243 

Appendix. 

Map  showing  Crusoe's  voyages  (date  1719)      .        .        .        .  246 

Portrait  of  Robinson  Crusoe,  taken  1719        ....  252 

Title-page  of  Crusoe,  third  edition 257 

Title-page  of  Selkirk's  narrative 263 


CEUSOE^S   ISLAND. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HOW    I    FOUND    THE    ISLAND.  • 

A  statement  of  the  case — Where  Crusoe  was  wrecked — Cradled 
on  a  reef — The  coast  of  Tobago — Left  alone  on  shore. 

There  is  one  period  of  my  life  which  I  call  my 
"Crusoe  year,"  because  it  was  owing  to  suggestions 
from  Robinson  Crusoe  that  I  enjoyed  its  rich  and 
varied  experiences.  It  all  came  about  through  my 
desire  to  know  more  of  the  island  in  which  Crusoe 
had  his  wonderful  adventures.  That  was  something 
which  the  author  of  the  book  seemed  to  have  left  out 
— ^just  where  it  was  situated  ;  yet  it  was  the  very  thing 
that  interested  me  most. 

And  when  I  was  a  boy  I  resolved  that  if  I  ever 
grew  up  to  be  a  man,  and  had  as  much  as  fifty  or 
a  hundred  dollars,  I  would  make  a  voyage  and  de- 
termine for  myself  where  he  w^as  located  after  the 
shipwreck ;  where  he  made  his  bower,  and  his  cave, 
and  kept  his  flocks  of  goats ;  and  above  all,  where  he 
first  met  "  Man  Friday,"  and  who  Man  Friday  was. 

It  came  to  pass  that,  after  I  had  attained  to  man's 
estate,  I  found  myself  possessed  of  somewhat  more 

1 


2  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

than  a  Imndreii'  dollars,?'  hm  'tl^eii  I  concluded  to 
make  my  voyage^  and  see;  v/liere  all  .those  interesting 
things  took  place';  ev^n  theirgh'tlie  events  narrated 
occurred  more  than  two  hundred  years  ago.  That 
doesn't  matter ;  the  world  has  always  had  boys  in  it, 
and,  I  fancy,  they  have  always  been  pretty  much  the 
same.  That  is,  they  liked  good,  hearty  adventure, 
liked  to  be  out  of  doors,  and  wanted  to  see  a  bit  of 
the  world. 

Well,  to  cut  short  a  story  that  otherwise  might 
be  made  very  long,  I  finally  found  myself  aboard  a 
small  schooner,  bound  for  the  islands  of  Barbados  and 
Trinidad.  The  master  of  the  vessel  was  an  old  friend 
of  mine.  Captain  Larcom,  who  in  his  youth  used  to 
sail  from  Salem  to  the  East  Indies,  when  our  com- 
mercial marine  was  more  flourishing  than  it  is  at  the 
present.  He  had  amassed  a  little  fortune  through 
his  long  years  at  sea,  and  was  virtually  on  the  retired 
list ;  but  he  now  and  then  took  a  sea  trip,  just  to  keep 
his  hand  in,  as  he  expressed  it. 

He  and  I  used  to  play  checkers  together  during 
the  long  winter  evenings  at  home,  and  in  the  inter- 
vals of  the  game  we  would  discuss  his  voyages  and 
adventures.  I  at  last  ventured  to  tell  him  of  my 
strong  desire  to  visit  Crusoe's  island,  and  he  was 
much  interested. 

"  But,  you  know,"  he  said,  "  it  will  be  a  long  and 
expensive  voyage,  away  round  the  Horn  to  the  coast 
of  Chili,  and  the  island  of  Juan  Fernandez ;  it  will 
take  a  lot  of  time  and  money." 

"  Yes,"  I  replied  rather  dubiously ;  "  but  I  don't 


HOW  I   FOUND  THE  ISLAND.  3 

want  to  go  to  Juan  Fernandez,  but  to  Tobago,  in  the 
Caribbean  Sea." 

"  You  do  ?  What  do  you  want  to  go  there 
for  ? " 

"  Because  that  is  Crusoe's  island." 

"  Nonsense,  boy ;  Crusoe's  island  is  Juan  Fernan- 
dez, in  latitude  30°  and  some  minutes  south  of  the 
equator;  while  Tobago  is  only  11^  north — right  at 
our  doors,  as  one  might  say." 

"  Well,  captain,  I  don't  want  to  contradict  you, 
but  you  are  making  the  same  mistake  everybody  else 
has  made  for  nearly  two  hundred  years.  You  have 
confounded  Robinson  Crusoe  with  Alexander  Selkirk, 
when  they  are  two  entirely  different  individuals,  no 
more  alike  than  you  and  1  are." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  Defoe  didn't  steal  his 
story  from  Selkirk  ?  I  was  always  told  that  he  did. 
If  he  didn't  where  did  he  get  it  ? " 

"  Where  did  he  get  it  ?  Perhaps  from  the  old 
navigators  who  had  lived  before  him,  and  had  pub- 
lished accounts  of  their  voyages,  such  as  Drake  the 
Sea  King,  Sir  Walter  Ealeigh,  and  many  others,  who 
sailed  to  the  West  Indies  and  coasted  the  Spanish 
Main." 

"  That  sounds  all  right ;  but  it'll  take  pretty  strong 
evidence  to  make  me  believe  that  Tobago  is  the 
island,  even  if  Juan  Fernandez  isn't.  I'll  tell  you 
what  I'll  do :  I'm  going  down  to  Trinidad  next 
month,  after  a  cargo  of  asphalt,  and  if  you'll  prove  to 
me  that  Tobago  was  the  island  Crusoe  lived  on,  I'll 
take  you  there  for  nothing." 


4  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

I  \^8  overjoyed  at  this,  for  I  had  made  my  posi- 
tion secure,  and  knew  that  I  could  convince  tlie  cap- 
tain of  the  truth  of  it.  And  I  did  it  from  the  Crusoe 
book  itself,  as  follows :  "  You  will  remember  that 
Crusoe,  when  a  young  man,  ran  away  to  sea,  was 
shipwrecked,  captured  by  the  savage  Moors,  with 
whom  he  lived  as  a  captive  two  years  or  so  on  the 
coast  of  Africa,  and  tlien  escaped  and  finally  arrived 
at  the  Brazils.  Here  he  lived  about  four  years  as  a 
planter,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  set  out  for  Africa 
again  in  quest  of  slaves.  It  is  with  this  latter  voy- 
age that  his  real  adventures  begin,  for  it  ended  in 
shipwreck  and  led  to  his  long  period  of  seclusion  on 
the  island  in  question. 

"They  had  not  been  out  long  when,  the  storm 
abating  a  little — to  quote  directly  from  Crusoe's  own 
journal — '  The  Master  made  an  observation  as  well  as 
he  could,  and  found  that  he  was  in  about  11°  of  north 
Latitude,  so  that  we  were  gotten  beyond  the  coast  of 
Guiana,  and  beyond  the  river  Amazones,  towards  the 
Eiver  Oroonoque  (Orinoco)  commonly  called  the  Great 
Eiver.'" 

"  Bless  my  stars !  "  said  the  captain,  when  I  read 
this  to  him,  "  that  does  look  like  Tobago.  But  go  on ; 
I'm  anxious  to  see  where  he  fetched  up." 

" '  So  we  chang'd  our  course,  and  steer'd  away 
N.  W.  by  W.,  in  order  to  reach  some  of  the  English 
Islands  ;  but  a  second  Storm  came  upon  us  and  drove 
us  so  out  of  the  way  of  all  humane  Commerce,  that, 
had  all  our  lives  been  saved,  as  to  the  Sea,  we  were 
rather  in  danger  of  being  devour'd  by  the  Salvages, 


HOW  I   FOUND  THE   ISLAND. 


than  of  ever  returning  to  our  own  country,  ^n  this 
distress,  one  of  our  Men,  early  in  the  Morning,  cry'd 
"Land!"  and  we  had  no  sooner  ran  out  of  theCabbin 
to  look,  in  the  hopes  of  seeing  whereabouts  in  the 
World  we  were,  but  the  Ship  struck  upon  a  Rock,  and 


in  a  moment,  her  mo- 
tion being  stopp'd, 
the    Sea    broke    over 


^     her  in  such  a  manner 
that  we   expected  we 


should  all  have  perish'd  immediately.'  " 

"  That  is  clever  enough,"  assented  the  captain, 
"  and  the  latitude  they  were  in  leaves  Juan  Fernandez 
out  of  the  question,  for  it  lies  more  than  40°  to  the 
southward  of  their  last  position." 

Passing  over  the  events  attendant  upon  the  land- 
ing of  Crusoe,  and  his  dismal  moralizings,  I  turned  to 
the  page  where  we  find  him,  after  having  in  a  measure 


6  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

recovered  from  his  disaster,  setting  out  on  a  tour  of 
exploration. 

" '  When  I  pass'd  the  Vale  where  my  Bower  stood, 
I  came  within  view  of  the  Sea,  and,  it  being  a  clear 
Day,  I  fairly  descried  Land — whether  an  Island  or  a 
Continent,  I  could  not  tell ;  but  it  lay  very  high,  at  a 
very  great  distance.' 

"  And  later,  when  he  had  a  companion  in  the  faith- 
ful '  Friday,'  he  says  :  '  I  ask'd  him  how  far  it  was 
from  our  Island  to  the  Shore,  and  whether  Canoes 
were  not  often  lost.  And  he  told  me  there  was  no 
danger, — no  Canoes  ever  lost ;  but  that  a  little  way 
out  to  Sea  there  was  a  Wind  and  a  Current,  always 
one  way  in  the  Morning,  and  another  in  the  After- 
noon. This  I  understood  to  be  no  more  than  the  sets 
of  the  Tyde,  as  going  out  and  coming  in  ;  but  I  after- 
wards understood  it  to  be  occasion'd  by  the  great 
draught  and  reflux  of  the  mighty  River  Oroonoque, 
in  the  mouth  or  gulph  of  which  our  Island  lay.  And 
the  Land  which  I  perceiv'd  was  the  great  Island  of 
Trinidad,  on  the  north  point  of  the  mouth  of  the 
River.'  " 

"  That's  enough,  my  boy,"  said  the  kind  old  cap- 
tain, "  you  needn't  read  any  more,  for  your  case  is 
proven.  You've  convinced  me  that  the  island  is  really 
Tobago,  for  there  isn't  any  other  in  that  latitude,  off 
the  mouth  of  the  Orinoco,  from  which  the  island  of 
Trinidad  can  be  seen.  I'll  take  you  there,  as  I  said.  I 
would  have  done  so,  anyway,  as  it  won't  be  much  out 
of  my  way  ;  only,  the  currents  along  Tobago  coast  are 
very  strong,  and  may  cause  me  trouble." 


HOW  I   FOUND   THE   ISLAND.  Y 

Tims  it  was  tliat  we  made  the  voyage  together, 
starting  in  the  month  of  January,  crossing  the  Gulf 
Stream  and  the  Sargasso  Sea,  touching  at  the  island 
of  Barbados,  and  finally  bringing  in  sight  the  object 
of  my  quest  one  evening,  just  as  the  sun  went  down. 

The  first  ofiicer  pointed  out  to  me  a  long  black 
cloud,  which  he  said  was  Tobago,  promising  to  be 
close  upon  it  in  the  morning,  adding  that  he  envied 
me  the  fun  I'd  have  when  I  got  on  shore.  And  that 
night  I  could  not  sleep,  thinking  of  "  the  fun  I'd 
have  "  on  the  morrow. 

And  it  was  as  well  I  could  not,  for  a  little  after 
midnight  a  sudden  and  terrible  shock  threw  me  out  of 
my  bunk  and  upon  the  floor,  where  for  a  time  I  lay 
bewildered.  Another  still  heavier  blow,  which  thrilled 
the  good  schooner  through  from  stem  to  stem,  brought 
back  my  scattered  senses,  and  I  groped  my  way  out 
of  the  cabin  and  scrambled  to  the  deck.  There  I  saw 
my  dear  old  captain  clinging  to  the  wheel,  maintain- 
ing his  post  nobly,  though  dashed  from  port  to  star- 
board every  time  a  wave  came  in.  Looking  over  the 
side,  I  saw  that  we  were  surrounded  by  breakers,  with 
great  white-crested  rollers  hurrying  upon  us  from 
every  direction. 

A  great  crash  announced  a  new  disaster ;  a  tre- 
mendous wave  rolled  over  the  stern,  unshipped  the 
rudder,  and  knocked  the  helmsman  flat  on  deck,  where 
for  a  moment  he  lay  groaning.  I  ran,  raised  him  in 
my  arms,  and  supported  him ;  he  was  so  dazed  that 
he  reeled  like  a  drunken  man.  But,  notwithstanding 
the  severe  shock  he  had  received,  as  soon  as  he  looked 


8  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

about  him  he  uttered  a  cry  of  joy.  For  that  last  great 
wave  had  thrown  the  vessel  over  the  reef  of  coral  and 
into  a  sheltered  harbor.  We  were  floating  in  calm 
water,  for  the  moment  as  safe  as  though  tied  up  to 
the  dock  at  home.  An  anchor  was  let  go  and  the 
pumps  tried,  which  soon  showed  that  no  leak  had 
started,  the  only  damage  being  to  the  unshipped 
rudder. 

The  captain  consulted  with  his  officers,  and  it  was 
decided  that  the  rudder  could  be  rigged  with  chains 
until  Trinidad  was  reached,  where  the  vessel  could  be 
overhauled.  It  was  then  explained  to  me  that  the 
vessel  had  been  caught  by  one  of  those  strong  currents 
from  the  Orinoco,  which  had  drifted  her  in  upon  To- 
bago shore  before  the  helmsman  and  the  watch  were 
aware  of  their  peril. 

Daylight  revealed  our  position,  close  under  the 
shadow  of  a  high  promontory,  right  abreast  a  deep 
bay  with  white,  sandy  beach.  An  exclamation  of 
delight  burst  from  me  as  I  saw  the  beauties  of  that 
tropic  strand  unfolded  in  the  brightening  dawn. 
This  was  the  island  I  had  sought ;  more  beautiful 
than  any  dream  of  mine,  at  last  it  lay  before  me  ! 

At  first  the  captain  would  not  hear  of  my  going 
ashore  alone,  for  there  was  no  house  in  sight,  no  evi- 
dence whatever  of  the  presence  of  human  beings. 
But  I  finally  convinced  him  that  this  was  the  very 
thing  I  desired  ;  that  I  had  come  here  to  live  a  life  of 
seclusion  ;  to  dwell  apart  from  men  after  the  manner 
of  my  great  predecessor,  Crusoe.  So  he  finally  yield- 
ed, gathered  together  my  "  traps,"  added  to  my  scant 


HOW  I   FOUND   THE  ISLAND.  9 

stores  a  barrel  of  beef  and  ''  hard  tack,"  put  them  all 
in  the  boat,  and  himself  accompanied  me  to  the  little 
beach  lying  between  the  great  cliffs  which  broke  out 
of  the  dense  forest. 

Then  he  took  me  aside  for  a  little  talk.  It  does 
not  matter  what  he  said  ;  but  our  eyes  were  a  trifle 
moist  as  he  turned  to  go,  and  the  pressure  of  his  big 
hand  remained  in  mine  long  after  he  had  disappeared. 
Then  I  sat  down  beneath  a  palm  and  tried  to  get  fa- 
miliar with  a  new  feeling  of  loneliness,  as  a  last  fare- 
well was  shouted  to  me,  and  a  projecting  promontory 
hid  the  last  flock  of  sail  from  sight. 

I  had  been  taken  at  my  word,  and  left  alone.  At 
length  my  dream  was  realized,  and  my  feet  pressed 
the  soil  of  Tobago,  the  island  of  Crusoe's  adventures. 


CHAPTEE  IL 

ENEMIES   ASHORE   AND   AFLOAT. 

My  hut  of  palm  spathes — The  deadly  manchineels — How  I  caught 
fish  without  hook  or  net — The  morning  bath  in  the  bay — 
Approaching  danger — The  great  gray  ghost  of  a  shark. 

After  the  ship  had  disappeared  behind  the  point, 
it  was  a  long  while  before  I  could  collect  my  thoughts 
and  prepare  for  action.  But  as  I  had  no  shelter  for 
the  coming  night,  I  had  no  time  to  lose,  if  I  did  not 
wish  to  sleep  exposed  upon  the  sands.  Material  for 
shelter  was  close  at  hand,  for  I  found  a  lot  of  straight 
poles,  cast  up  by  the  waves,  and  these  served  as  up- 
rights for  the  support  of  a  thatch  of  palm  leaves,  with 
which  the  beach  was  strewn. 

Selecting  a  spot  beneath  the  palms  on  the  bank  of 
a  stream,  I  drove  the  poles  into  the  sand,  and  soon 
had  the  four  sides  of  my  hut  in  place.  Over  this 
skeleton  I  tacked  strips  of  canvas,  covering  them  with 
the  palm  leaves.  Above  them  I  placed  a  layer  of  the 
great  spathes  of  the  mountain  palm,  some  of  which 
were  from  six  to  eight  feet  long  and  two  feet  broad ; 
they  were  curved  like  Spanish  tiles,  and  formed  ex- 
cellent roofing  material.  I  connected  the  poles  by 
crosspieces,  and  covered  them  with  leaves ;  and  in  a 

10 


ENEMIES  ASHORE  AND  AFLOAT. 


11 


few  hours  I  had  a  shelter  sufficient  for  protection 
from  the  night  air  and  from  the  sun  by  day. 

Out  of  some  rough  boards  which  I  found  on  the 
beach  I  made  a  floor.  Into  one  corner  of  my  hut  I 
then  rolled  a  barrel  of  beef,  into  another  one  of  pork, 
while  the  cracker  and  ammunition  boxes  formed  good 
substitutes  for  chairs  and  tables.  Bracing  the  corner 
posts  of  two  ends  of  the  hut  with  stakes,  I  swung  my 
hammock  from  the  eaves ;  and  there  I  was,  prepared 

for  any  fortune  that 
might  come.  Cru- 
soe himself  had  no 


My  hut  on  the  beach. 


better  couch,  for  he  says  in  his  journal,  "  Now  I  lay 
no  more  for  a  while  in  a  Bed,  but  in  a  Hamak." 

I  awoke  next  morning  at  daybreak.  At  first  I 
gazed  bewildered  at  the  brown  thatch  above  me ; 
then,  as  a  slender  green-and-golden  lizard  rustled  the 
dry  palm  leaves  close  to  my  face,  I  recalled  the  queer 
events  of  the  day  before,  and  realized  that  I  was  no 
longer  passenger  on  a  slow-sailing  schooner,  but  a 
lonely  dweller  in  a  hut  of  poles  and  palm  leaves.     I 


12  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

leaped  from  the  liammoek,  drew  aside  the  blanket 
that  served  as  a  door,  and  stepped  out  into  open  air. 
The  little  bay  was  all  alight  with  the  glories  of  ap- 
proaching morn.  The  wall  of  woods  behind  me  hid 
the  rising  sun ;  in  truth,  its  rays  did  not  reach  this 
spot  till  late,  so  that  the  beach  still  lay  in  cool,  sweet 
shadow. 

I^early  a  week  I  lived  here  quietly,  gathering  my 
strength  and  measuring  the  diflSculties  before  me 
when  1  should  invade  the  forest.  There  was  no  ne- 
cessity for  hurry,  as  it  was  then  but  the  beginning  of 
the  dry  season,  which  lasts  through  the  winter  well 
into  May  and  June.  By  the  time  the  rainy  season 
should  arrive  I  hoped  to  have  a  better  habitation  and 
to  be  prepared  for  a  long  period  of  seclusion. 

While  my  hut  was  in  the  shadow  and  the  air  was 
cool,  I  resolved  to  go  about  with  as  little  clothing  as 
possible,  and  stripped  myself  of  nearly  everything; 
but  when  the  sun  had  crept  over  the  trees,  and  show- 
ered me  with  his  scorching  rays,  I  was  glad  enough 
to  put  on  my  clothes  again.  It  may  be  remembered 
that  Crusoe  had  a  similar  experience  in  playing  sav- 
age, for,  after  having  tried  the  same  experiment,  he 
says  quite  plaintively,  "  I  could  not  bear  the  Heat  of 
the  Sun  so  well  when  quite  naked  as  w^ith  some 
Cloathes  on ;  nay,  the  very  Heat  frequently  blister'd 
my  Skin."  But  I  did  not  further  follow  his  exam- 
ple and  make  myself  garments  of  goatskin ;  that 
would  have  been  a  most  ridiculous  and  unnecessary 
labor. 

I  hope  I  was  not  such  an  arrant  coward  as  Crusoe, 


ENEMIES  ASHORE  AND  AFLOAT.  13 

who,  though  he  recovered  "  great  store  "  of  arms  and 
ammunition  from  the  wreck,  never  felt  quite  at  ease, 
but  always  took  his  walks  abroad  loaded  down  with 
guns  and  pistols.  "  For,"  said  he,  ''  I  was  afraid  to 
lie  down  on  the  Ground,  not  knowing  but  some  wild 
Beast  might  devour  me ;  tho',  as  I  afterward  found, 
there  was  really  no  need  for  those  Fears.  ...  I 
found  no  ravenous  Beast,  no  furious  Wolves  or  Ty- 
gers  to  threaten  my  Life ;  no  venemous  Creatures ; 
nor  Poisons  which  I  might  feed  on  to  my  hurt ;  no 
Salvages  to  murther  and  devour  me." 

Neither  was  there  anything  of  the  sort  to  bother 
me ;  and  I  had  this  advantage  over  poor  Crusoe  :  that 
I  knew,  in  a  general  way,  what  were  the  resources  of 
my  island. 

But  one  day — I  think  it  was  the  second  of  my 
stay — in  wandering  over  my  beach,  I  found  a  clump 
of  trees  that  made  me  pause  a  moment  and  reflect 
upon  the  possible  dangers  of  hunting  through  these 
woods  alone. 

They  had  smooth  and  shining  stems,  green  and 
glossy  leaves,  and  threw  a  most  inviting  shade  over 
the  snowy  sand,  which  was  strewn  with  yellow  apples, 
fallen  from  the  boughs  above.  Fortunately  for  me, 
I  did  not  seek  to  recline  beneath  the  shade  of  these 
trees  nor  try  to  eat  any  of  the  tempting  apples,  for 
these  were  the  dreaded  manchineels — the  West  In- 
dian upas  trees — which  have  poisoned  many  a  ship- 
wrecked sailor  who  has  been  deceived  by  their  fine  ap- 
pearance. They  should  especially  be  avoided  when 
the  dew  or  rain  is  falling,  as  a  drop  of  water  from 


14  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

the  leaves  causes  the  skin  to  bhster;  the  fniit  is 
poisonous. 

But  they  served  me  well,  just  the  same,  know- 
ing them  as  I  did;  and  this  is  how:  Over  behind 
the  sand  bank  was  a  deep  pond  filled  with  fish. 
The  fish  were  fair  and  tempting,  but  I  had  with  me 
no  hook  nor  line.  So  I  carefully  cut  away  some  of 
the  branches  with  their  shining  leaves,  and  cast  them 
into  the  pool.  Soon  up  came  a  small  fish  gasping  for 
breath;  then  another  larger,  and  another,  mitil  the 
surface  was  covered,  and  I  had  only  to  wade  into  the 
water  and  throw  them  out  on  the  sand. 

Although  the  fish  seem  to  be  poisoned,  their  flesh 
is  not  injured,  as  the  sole  eflfect  of  the  manchineel 
appears  to  be  to  deprive  the  water  temporarily  of  its 
oxygen,  causing  the  denizens  therein  to  come  to  the 
surface  to  breathe.  They  must  be  quickly  taken,  or 
they  will  soon  recover  and  again  dive  below  the  sur- 
face. 

The  fun  of  fishing,  as  any  boy  will  understand, 
consists  in  being  able  to  catch  the  fish — and  plenty 
of  them — without  any  risk  to  the  fisher.  But  when 
the  fish  turn  the  tables  and  undertake  to  hunt  the 
fisher — that  is  altogether  another  matter !  Yet  that 
is  what  they  did  to  me  on  one  occasion ;  and  the  rec- 
ollection of  the  adventure  makes  me  shudder  when- 
ever I  think  of  it. 

It  was  my  custom,  every  morning,  to  run  down 
from  my  hut  over  the  smooth  sand  into  the  water, 
and  there  paddle  about  for  half  an  hour  or  more  in 
perfect    ecstasy.      I  had  become    so  accustomed  to 


ENEMIES  ASHORE  AND  AFLOAT.  15 

looking  upon  this  little  harbor  as  my  own  peculiar 
property,  perfectly  safe,  secluded  from  the  world,  that 
I  no  more  thought  of  taking  any  precautions  than  I 
would  have  done  in  a  bath  tub.  But  danger  is  always 
lurking  in  our  paths,  ready  to  take  us  unawares,  espe- 
cially in  a  strange  country.  This  particular  danger 
was  the  result  of  my  own  carelessness,  too ;  I  had 
nobody  but  myself  to  blame.  That  is  one  of  the 
worst  phases  of  a  solitary  life;  you  don't  have  any 
one  else  to  blame  for  your  misfortunes. 

Well,  it  had  become  a  habit  with  me,  whenever  I 
cleaned  a  fish,  to  leave  the  refuse  on  the  beach  for 
the  gulls  and  sea  swallows  to  eat.  By  this  means  I 
had  made  them  so  tame  that  they  came  flying  over 
whenever  they  saw  me  approach  the  water,  saluting 
me  with  joyous  screams.  This  was  very  dehghtful 
to  me  in  my  solitude;  but  the  presence  of  the  fish 
bait  and  the  noise  of  the  birds  attracted  other  denizens 
of  the  water,  and  came  near  being  my  destruction. 

One  morning,  while  I  was  floating  placidly  on  the 
water,  my  face  upturned  to  the  sky,  I  felt  the  ap- 
proach of  danger.  Quickly  raising  my  head,  I  saw  a 
great  gray  ghost  approaching — an  immense  shark, 
swimming  swiftly  and  silently,  his  erect  back  fin 
hardly  making  a  ripple  on  the  surface  of  the  water ! 
Then  there  was*  a  sudden  swirl  in  the  water  as  he 
turned  half  over  to  seize  my  extended  arm.  A  thrill 
of  terror  shot  through  me. 

He  misseii  me  by  scarcely  a  handbreadth  as  I 
scrambled  for  the  shore ;  but  fortunately  I  was  in 
shallow  water,  and  so  evaded  him  and  regained  the 


16 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


beach.  He  followed  me  right  into  the  surf,  and  with 
a  snap  of  his  great  jaws,  thick  set  with  rows  of  pointed 
teeth,  gathered  in  a  mouthful  of  the  fish  I  had  left 


there  for  my  birds.  I  did 
not  wait  to  expostulate, 
but  ran  to  the  hut,  seized 
my  gun,  slipped  in  a 
charge  of  large  shot,  hur- 
ried back  and  fired  the 
load  into  his  side  before 
he  could  get  away.  It  was  in  vain  that  he  splashed 
about  and  gnashed  his  cruel  teeth ;  I  soon  had  him  out 
of  the  water  and  his  head  cut  off,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  my  gulls  and  terns  were  feasting  on  his  carcase. 
There  must  be  another  shark,  I  knew,  for  these 
man-eaters  alw^ays  swim  in  pairs ;  so  I  kept  my  eyes 
open  for  its  mate.  It  did  not  come  that  morning,  nor 
the  next,  and  I  was  regaining  my  feeling  of  careless 
security,  when  it  was  suddenly  dispelled  by  the  second 


ENEMIES  ASHORE  AND  AFLOAT.  17 

intruder.  I  had  not  discontinued  my  baths;  but  I 
always  took  a  big  stick  into  tlie  water  with  ine,  and 
swam  very  near  the  surf. 

At  last  the  other  shark  came  in,  but  fortunately  I 
saw  her  before  she  reached  me.  She  shied  off  to 
deep  water  as  I  ran  for  my  gun,  returning  later  and 
sweeping  up  near  the  fish  bait.  I  gave  her  a  shot  in 
the  back,  which  only  infuriated  her ;  but  another  in  a 
vital  part  quieted  her  forever.  So  I  killed  my  ene- 
mies— that  is,  the  first  ones — and  I  found  this  shark 
to  be  nearly  nine  feet  in  length — six  inches  shorter 
than  her  mate. 

My  peaceful  hfe  had  now  been  invaded  by  real 
terrors;  at  the  end  of  my  beach  grew  the  odious 
manchineels ;  in  front  of  it  swam  the  man-eaters. 
Only  the  day  before  I  had  found  an  immense  centi- 
pede in  my  hammock,  which  had  dropped  from  the 
thatch  while  I  was  absent ;  but  it  might  as  easily 
have  fallen  on  my  face  while  I  lay  asleep !  So,  alto- 
gether, I  was  restless  and  not  so  satisfied  with  my  lot 
as  I  might  have  been.  I  resolved  to  leave  the  sea- 
side and  explore  the  great  forest,  where,  perchance,  I 
might  find  a  retreat  less  liable  to  invasion. 


CHAPTER  III. 

FIRST   DAY    IN   THE    FOREST. 

What  I  wore  and  carried— Crusoe's  accoutrements — A  wrestle 
with  razor  grass — Under  the  parrot-apple  tree — Creepers  and 
crawlers — The  crested  cassican — A  bird's  nest  five  feet  long. 

I  WAS  not,  perhaps,  quite  the  "formidable  Fel- 
low "  that  our  old  friend  Robinson  Crusoe  was  when 
he  set  out  for  his  walks  abroad ;  but  I  was  equally  well 
equipped  for  a  fight,  if  need  be.  To  tell  the  truth, 
I  never  could  understand  how  he  managed  to  carry 
that  cumbersome  broadsword  through  the  tangled 
thickets;  not  to  mention  his  hatchet,  pistols,  and 
heavy  fowling  piece.  And  then,  again,  he  was  so 
heavily  laden  with  clothing  and  accoutrements,  in  a 
tropical  climate,  with  the  thermometer  (if  he  had  one) 
indicating  somewhere  near  a  hundred  degrees  in  the 
shade. 

Now,  my  costume  was  the  result  of  many  months 
of  experience  with  the  hot  sun  of  tropical  regions, 
and  I  always  dressed  with  an  eye  to  comfort.  In 
the  first  place,  on  my  head  a  helmet  made  of  papyrus 
pith,  which  was  imported  from  the  East  Indies — the 
favorite  head  gear  of  all  tropical  explorers,  because 
it  is  so  light,  and  at  the  same  time  absolutely  imper- 

18 


rfki^ 


Crusoe,  as  described  by  himself. 


vious  to  the  rays  of  the  hottest  sun.  My 
coat  and  trousers  were  of  dun-colored 
duck,  shirt  of  coarse  Hnen,  and  all  three 
as  full  of  pockets  as  they  could  be.  Slung 
19 


20  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

over  my  shoulder  was  a  broad  strap,  attached  to  a 
willow  trout  basket,  which  is  better  than  a  game 
bag,  as  the  birds  you  carry  in  it  can  not  be  crushed. 
My  pockets  were  filled  with  shells  loaded  with  shot 
of  different  sizes,  and  in  one  hand  I  carried  a  light 
breech-loading  shotgun. 

Having  slept  well  the  night  before,  breakfasted 
well  that  morning,  and  having  washed  away  my  cares 
in  the  sea  with  my  bath  at  daylight,  I  felt  as  free 
and  buoyant  as  the  forest  birds  whose  acquaintance  I 
was  then  about  to  seek. 

The  sun  hadn't  been  long  above  the  waves  when 
he  might  have  seen  me  on  the  edge  of  the  great  for- 
est, which  I  had  noted  the  very  first  day  of  my  arrival 
here,  but  which  I  had  not  hitherto  made  an  attempt 
to  penetrate.  But,  as  if  to  warn  me  from  the  woods, 
on  the  very  edge  of  it  I  had  a  tussle  with  an  enemy, 
who  nearly  succeeded  in  cutting  my  throat :  I  got  en- 
tangled in  a  thicket  of  razor  grass,  that  awful  pest  of 
southern  lowlands,  and  which  has  disabled  many  a 
poor  West  Indian  negro  by  cutting  his  naked  feet  and 
slashing  his  legs  and  arms. 

After  disentangling  myself  I  was  quite  out  of 
breath,  and  out  of  sorts  as  well,  and  had  more  than 
half  a  mind  to  return  to  my  hut  on  the  beach.  But, 
having  seated  myself  beneath  a  parrot-apple  tree  to 
recover  breath,  I  soon  perceived  that  I  had,  unwit- 
tingly, halted  in  just  the  right  place  to  get  a  lot  of 
birds  without  any  trouble  whatever.  I  was  then  re- 
minded of  what  my  experience  had  long  ago  taught 
me,  but  which  I  had  forgotten :  that  it  is  often  better 


FIRST  DAY  IN  THE   FOREST.  21 

to  sit  still  and  wait  for  game  to  come  to  you,  than  to 
roam  about  aimlessly  in  search  of  it. 

The  parrot  apple  is  a  tree  resembling  a  wild  fig, 
and  throws  out  and  down  to  the  ground,  from  stem 
and  branches,  shoots  like  those  of  the  banyan  and 
mangrove.  Some  of  these  "adventitious  roots"  at 
touch  of  earth  spring  up  again,  like  the  fabled 
Antaeus  who  wrestled  with  Hercules,  climb  up  into 
the  tree,  and  join  themselves  to  limbs  and  branches. 
It  is  a  peculiarity  of  some  species  of  the  family  to 
which  this  tree  belongs  to  attach  itself  to  whatever  it 
meets,  like  the  barnacle  to  a  ship,  and  sometimes 
specimens  may  be  found  completely  inclosing  another 
tree  in  a  deadly  embrace,  growing  completely  around 
it,  the  bark  visible  only  through  the  meshes  in  a 
ligneous  net.  The  leaves  are  large,  round,  and  glossy 
green;  the  fruit  is  fig-shaped,  and  contains  seeds 
that  will  burn  like  a  wax  taper.  When  the  fruit  is 
ripe  the  negroes  say,  "  The  parrot  apple  am  bus','' 
and,  like  the  birds  and  wood  rats,  seek  it  out  for  its 
precious  seeds. 

The  treetop  was  alive  with  birds,  the  most  beau- 
tiful of  which  were  the  little  creepers,  with  their 
backs  of  velvet  blue,  head  cerulean  green,  under  parts 
azure,  and  feet  coral  red.  Their  dried  skins  may  be 
found  in  all  the  bird  sellers'  stores  in  cities,  for  there 
is  a  great  demand  for  them  with  which  to  "orna- 
ment "  the  hats  and  bonnets  of  thoughtless  women. 

The  farther  I  proceeded  into  the  forest  the  denser 
became  the  vegetation  ;  but  at  last  I  found  a  secluded 
dell,  where  the  tall  trees  had  prevented  the  under- 


22  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

growtli  from  forming  and  covering  the  ground,  and 
the  view  was  comparatively  open.  In  the  midst  of 
this  dell  I  saw  a  tall  palm  standing,  with  a  trunk  per- 
haps a  hundred  feet  high,  and  broad  leaves  spreading 
around  it  on  every  side.  I  knew  it  at  once  to  be  the 
great  mountain  palm,  called  by  the  botanists  Oreo- 
doxa  ;  but  I  had  never  seen  one  exactly  like  this  be- 
fore, for,  from  the  terminal  tip  of  every  immense 
leaf  hung  a  curious  structure,  woven  of  grass  and 
palm  fiber.  It  was  as  if  a  vast  umbrella  had  been 
stuck  upon  a  big  tree  trunk,  and  from  the  end  of 
every  rib  a  long  silken  purse  had  been  hung. 

While  I  was  wondering  what  these  strange  things 
could  be,  out  from  one  of  them  scrambled  a  big  black 
and  yellow  bird,  which,  after  circling  above  my  head, 
alighted  on  a  limb  and  began  to  scold  me  for  intrud- 
ing into  this  private  parlor  of  his  family.  He  was  soon 
joined  by  dozens  of  others,  and  shortly  there  was  such 
a  noise  that  I  could  hardly  ^"hear  myself  think." 

There  must  be  some  reason  for  all  this  fuss,  I 
thought,  and  so  narrowly  examined  those  funny  af- 
fairs at  the  tips  of  the  leaves,  and  after  a  while  made 
them  out  to  be  birds'  nests !  Yes,  every  one  was  the 
dwelling  place  of  a  pair  of  birds,  and  probably  held 
some  of  their  eggs.  Of  course  I  was  very  anxious  to 
see  what  they  looked  like  close  at  hand  and  to  secure 
the  eggs ;  but  how  to  get  them  puzzled  me  greatly. 
They  hung  too  far  above  the  earth  to  be  reached  by 
poles  or  stones,  and  the  shafts  of  the  palms  were  too 
straight  and  smooth  to  be  "shinned,"  even  by  a 
monkey. 


FIRST  DAY  IN  THE  FOREST.  23 

At  last  it  occurred  to  me  to  try  to  shoot  them  down 
by  firing  charges  of  shot  at  the  juncture  of  the  leaf 
with  the  nest.  At  first  I  was.  unsuccessful,  for  the 
material  of  which  the  nest  was  composed  was  carried 
up  and  woven 
around  the  leaf 
for  quite  a  dis- 
tance, and  it  was 
next  to  impos- 
sible to  cut  it 
away.  But  af- 
ter firing  several 
shots  I  had  the 
satisfaction  of 
seeing  one  of 
the  nests  twirl 
around  in  the  air, 
and  then  come 
swirling      down 

to  the  ground.  It  was  so  elastic  in 
texture  that  I  found  the  three  eggs 
within  unharmed  by  the  fall,  reposing 
on  a  bed  of  dried  leaves  and  grass. 
They  were  of  a  pale  clay  color,  marked 
with  characters  like  those  on  the  egg 
of  our  northern  grackle. 

As  to  the  nest  itself,  when  1  had 
examined  it  closely  I  found  it  to  be  made  of  long 
grasses,  intermixed  with  fibrous  strips  of  palm  leaf, 
and  as  closely  woven  as  if  the  work  of  human  hands. 
It  resembled  the  nest  of  our  Baltimore  oriole,  but 


^4  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

was  many  times  as  large  and  as  long,  tlie  largest  that 
I  saw  being  live  feet  from  one  end  to  the  other! 
Inside  this  aerial  cradle,  suspended  from  the  high- 
hung  palm  leaf,  the  eggs  and  young  of  its  builders 
would  be  safe  from  prowling  monkeys  and  preda- 
tory boys.  'No  gale  could  shake  it  loose  from  its 
attachments,  not  even  the  hurricane ;  and,  as  the  en- 
trance to  the  nest  was  high  up,  near  its  throat,  its 
occupants  might  with  safety  stay  within  it  and  laugh 
in  the  face  of  the  storm. 

And  its  builders?  They  are  called  yellowtails, 
in  the  island  where  I  found  them  and  their  nests ; 
but  the  naturalists  have  named  them  the  crested  cas- 
sican  (in  Latin,  Icteros  cassicus\  owing  to  their  hel- 
met-like crest  and  yellow  color. 

Having  secured  some  more  nests,  and  also  speci- 
mens of  the  birds,  I  pushed  on  into  the  forest  until  I 
reached  a  deep  ravine,  where  the  rocks  and  trees  com- 
bined almost  hid  the  sun  and  sky.  It  was  very  dark 
and  gloomy  there,  and  before  I  had  explored  the 
place  well  the  shades  of  night  were  gathering;  for 
time  passes  quickly,  as  we  all  know,  when  we  are 
constantly  employed.  I  saw  a  great  hawk  sitting  on 
the  topmost  branch  of  a  high  tree,  and  fired  my  gun, 
with  the  intention  of  bringing  it  to  the  ground.  Un-' 
til  the  moment  that  I  fired  the  woods  had  been  almost 
as  silent  as  a  tomb,  but  at  that  instant  there  broke 
out  a  perfect  storm  of  strange  cries,  as  though  all 
the  animals  of  the  forest  had  awakened  from  deep 
sleep. 

I  was  startled,  but  in  the  midst  of  the  confusion  I 


FIRST  DAY  IN  THE  FOREST. 


25 


could  not  but  recall    the  experience  of  Crusoe  in  a 
similar  situation  to  mine  : 

"  I  believe  that  it  was  the  first  Gun  that  had  ever 
been  fir'd  there  since  the  creation  of  the  World ;  for  I 
had  no  sooner  fir'd,  but  from  all  parts  of  the  Wood 


The  crested  Cassican. 

there  arose  an  innumerable  number  of  Fowls  of  many 
sorts,  making  a  confus'd  screaming  and  crying,  every 
one  according  to  his  Kind." 

And  after  the  great  noise  had  somewhat  subsided, 
I  heard  what  seemed  to  me  was  a  human  voice,  say- 
ing, "  Who  ?  who  ?  who  are  you  ? " 

This  voice  startled  me  more  than  all  the  rest,  for 
I  had  not  heard  the  sound  of  human  speech  since  the 
departure  of  my  friends  on  the  vessel.  As  the  dark- 
4 


26  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

ness  deepened,  out  of  the  denser  woods  came  muffled 
noises,  strange  and  fearsome ;  but  above  them  all  rose 
the  hollow  voice,  like  the  wail  of  a  lost  spirit,  ''  Who  ? 
who  ?  who  are  you  ?  " 

I  had  laughed  to  myself  at  the  causeless  fears  of 
Crusoe,  when  I  had  read  of  his  immense  preparations 
for  defense,  as  narrated  in  his  book ;  but  if  he  could 
have  revisited  the  scene  of  his  own  terrors,  he  would 
have  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  me  trembling 
and  quaking  at  the  mere  sound  of  a  ghostly  voice ! 

I  will  confess  that  I  did  not  breathe  freely  until 
I  had  reached  the  bluff  above  the  beach  where  my 
hut  stood,  and  saw  the  glimmer  of  the  stars  in  the 
placid  water  of  the  little  bay. 

I  had  seen  nobody,  but  all  the  while  I  felt  that 
something  or  somebody  was  following  me,  for  that 
unearthly  voice  mocked  me  all  along  the  trail  through 
the  thick  woods,  and  left  me  only  at  the  verge  of  the 
clearing. 

And  this  was  the  termination  of  my  first  day  in 
the  forest,  which  had  opened  so  blithely  in  the  morn- 
ing— had  seen  me  go  forth  so  full  of  hopeful  anticipa- 
tions, only  to  return  disturbed  by  dismal,  fears. 


CHAPTEE  lY. 

THE   KING    OF   THE   WOODS. 

The  attractive  ravine — A  sanctuary  of  the  birds — I  hear  a  spirit 
voice — An  old  acquaintance — Toh,  the  bird  left  out  of  the 
ark — How  its  tail  became  attenuated — How  it  kills  serpents. 

A  WEEK  passed  away  before  I  took  to  the  woods 
again — a  week  of  work,  of  quiet  labor  and  modest 
delights.  It  had  been  my  intention  to  make  a  foray 
into  the  forest  every  day,  if  possible ;  but,  so  long  as 
my  time  was  occupied,  there  was  no  immediate  neces- 
sity for  hunting.  I  had,  I  knew,  four  months  of  the 
dry  season  to  explore  in,  and  even  in  the  so-called 
rainy  season  it  was  not  impossible  to  go  out.  I  dated 
my  advent  here  from  the  middle  of  December,  when 
the  autumn  rains  were  over  and  the  best  of  the  win- 
ter season  ahead  of  me.  As  I  had  hardly  expected 
to  get  settled  before  the  first  of  January,  but  had 
been  favored  by  fortune  so  unexpectedly,  I  counted 
all  of  this  month  saved  as  so  much  clear  gain. 

I  contemplated  a  garden,  of  course ;  but  the  time 
for  its  preparation  had  not  quite  arrived,  and  there 
was  nothing  to  be  gained  by  haste.  Although  I  had 
no  snow  and  frost  to  contend  with  there,  and  could 
raise  several  crops  in  a  season,  still  due  regard  must 

27 


28  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

be  paid  to  the  seasons  of  rains  and  drought.  To  have 
the  best  results,  I  must  prepare  mj  soil  and  plant  the 
seed  just  before  the  rains  commenced,  or  at  least  so 
that  the  growing  plants  should  receive  the  benefits  of 
the  watering  when  most  needed.  I  had,  then,  at  least 
two  months  for  hunting  and  the  leisurely  preparation 
of  my  farm. 

I  will  also  confess  to  you,  reader,  that  another 
reason  operated  against  a  hasty  resumption  of  my 
forest  rambles.  You  may  recall  that  on  my  first  trip, 
as  narrated  in  the  previous  chapter,  I  was  frightened 
— ^yes,  I  was  startled  and  made  quite  uneasy — by  that 
mysterious  interrogator  in  the  deep  woods,  who  hooted 
in  my  ears  and  himself  remained  unseen.  The  more 
I  thought  upon  it  the  deeper  became  the  mystery ; 
but  I  could  not  allow  him,  whoever  he  was,  to  drive 
me  from  my  purpose ;  and,  at  all  events,  he  had  not 
pursued  me  beyond  the  forest  verge,  and  had  made 
no  other  hostile  demonstration.  So  I  determined  to 
venture  again,  but  to  keep  on  the  alert  as  soon  as  the 
deep  woods  were  gained. 

Descending  the  river  bed  between  great  rocks  tliat 
seemed  to  have  been  rent  apart  for  the  passage  of  a 
torrent  in  bygone  ages,  I  entered  a  gloomy  gorge 
where  the  sun  was  almost  shut  out.  Here  the  stream 
ran  from  basin  to  basin  in  the  ledge,  now  with  low 
murmur  and  again  with  noisy  fall.  It  was  overhung 
by  a  dense  canopy  of  vines  and  trees,  which  intensi- 
fied the  gloom  beneath. 

A  drift  of  sand  lay  at  the  base  of  a  cliff,  clean 
and  yellow,  beneath  which  was  a  deep  pool  of  quiet 


29 


30  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

water — a  delightful  place  for  a  bath,  though  the  huge 
crayfish  crawling  over  its  bottom  looked  formidable. 
In  the  rainy  season  this  little  stream  must  rise  to  the 
dignity  of  a  roaring  torrent,  as  evidence  of  it  could  be 
seen  in  scattered  trees  and  branches  lodged  among 
the  rocks. 

A  little  kingfisher  dashed  by  like  a  meteor,  leaving 
behind  him  a  shrill  rattling  cry,  which  rang  through 
the  gorge  like  the  shriek  of  a  locomotive.  Up  under 
the  sheer  wall  of  a  precipice  sat  unconcerned  a 
green  and  golden  jacamar ;  brilliant  humming  birds 
darted  from  flower  to  vine  and  from  liane  to  lialine, 
halting  now  and  then,  suspended  in  mid-air  before  my 
face,  as  though  questioning  me  as  to  the  reason  for 
my  intrusion. 

That  I  was  an  intruder  I  could  not  but  feel  con- 
vinced, for  this  spot  seemed  sacred  to  the  birds,  who 
retreated  here  for  shelter  in  storm  and  shade  at  heat 
of  noon. 

Above  the  sand-drift  a  roof  was  formed  of  the 
lianes,  stretched  like  the  cordage  of  a  ship  and  like  a 
netted  hammock.  Against  the  walls  of  rock  great 
green  leaves  were  plastered,  and  across  the  pool  huge 
fallen  tree  trunks  lay  prostrate,  heaped  with  a  wealth 
of  parasitic  plants  and  gay  with  flowers.  All  the 
birds  here  found  refuge,  and  appeared  to  meet  as  on 
common  ground — woodpeckers,  thrushes,  flycatchers, 
trogons  with  emerald  coats,  doves  in  sober  drab,  hum- 
ming birds  in  iridescent  plumage — all  gathered  here 
as  the  heat  outside  became  oppressive. 

They  regarded  me  curiously  as  I  lay  prone  upon 


THE  KING   OF   THE  WOODS.  31 

my  bed  of  sand,  and  many  fluttered  about  uneasily ; 
but  not  one  seemed  to  entertain  a  doubt  of  the  in- 
tegrity of  my  intentions.  This  confidence  robbed  me 
of  whatever  evil  motive  I  had  in  coming  here,  and 
my  gun  rested  against  the  rock,  while  I  noted  the 
movements  of  my  companions. 

Never  had  naturalist  a  better  opportunity  for 
studying  animated  Nature  at  his  ease,  nor  for  near 
acquaintance  with  the  little  folk  with  feathers  on 
them.  I  welcomed  this  chance  with  joy,  and  was 
alert  to  their  every  motion,  for  it  was  what  I  had 
long  desired:  a  peep  into  the  private  affairs  of  the 
bird  family.  With  as  little  disturbance  as  possible,  I 
drew  out  my  notebook  and  set  my  pencil  in  motion, 
and  for  hours  I  was  intent  on  recording  the  many 
strange  things  I  that  day  saw. 

At  last  I  wearied  of  the  work,  and  the  heat  of 
high  noon  penetrating  here,  I  fell  asleep.  When  I 
awoke  the  whole  gorge  was  in  deep  shadow,  for  the 
sun  had  nearly  performed  his  diurnal  journey ;  a  dove 
was  drinking  at  the  pool,  and  the  jacamar  was  still 
sitting  under  the  cliff ;  but  nearly  all  the  others  had 
gone  to  their  haunts  of  the  night.  I  arose  and 
stretched  myself,  gathered  up  my  scattered  belong- 
ings, and  prepared  to  depart.  As  I  did  so  a  sound 
saluted  my  ears  that  made  me  start ;  in  the  words  of 
Crusoe,  "  If  I  had  had  a  Hat  on  my  Head,  I  will  not 
answer  for  it  that  my  Hair  might  not  have  lifted  it 
off!" 

It  was  the  same  spirit  voice,  asking  me  why  I  was 
here  and  what  I  was  doing  :  "  Who  ?  who  ? " 


32  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

This  time  I  felt  that  the  spirit,  the  "  jumbie,"  or 
whatever  it  was,  had  me  at  a  disadvantage;  for  I 
could  only  retreat  slowly,  and  would  require  all  my 
attention  to  get  out  of  the  gorge.  So  I  rashly  turned 
at  bay ;  finding  I  was  "  in  for  it,"  1  determined  to 
make  the  best  of  the  situation  and  present  a  bold 
front.  Setting  my  back  against  the  rock  (for  a  man 
always  feels  less  nervous  with  something  solid  at  his 
back)  I  grasped  my  gun  and  peered  anxiously  into 
the  gathering  darkness  of  the  chasm. 

Suddenly  the  hollow  voice  sounded  right  over  my 
head  :  "  Who  ? "  There  was  a  rift  in  the  network  of 
vines  that  gave  me  a  view  of  the  projecting  branch  of 
a  tree,  and  on  this  branch  sat  a  strange  bird :  strange 
at  the  moment,  and  yet  I  felt  that  I  had  seen  it  some- 
where before.  All  at  once  it  broke  upon  me,  and  I 
sat  down  on  the  sand  again  and  burst  into  laughter  ; 
for  I  then  recalled  the  cry  as  one  I  had  heard  years 
ago,  in  a  cave  in  Yucatan. 

"Why,"  I  said  to  myself,  "it  is  Toh,  dear  old 
Toh;  and  instead  of  intending  me  harm  he  only 
meant  to  greet  me." 

Now  Toh,  you  must  know,  dear  reader,  was  the 
only  bird  left  out  of  the  ark  at  the  time  of  universal 
deluge,  the  Yucatecans  told  me.  He  sat  upon  a  tree 
and  scoffed  at  Noah,  while  the  patriarch  was  build- 
ing, and  after  the  ark  was  finished  he  refused  to  enter 
along  with  the  rest  of  the  passengers.  The  elephant 
and  the  giraffe  and  other  tall  animals  that  could  reach 
up  to  his  perch  urged  him  to  go  in,  and  emphasized 
their  remarks  by  tearing  out  some  of  Toh's  tail  feath- 


THE  KING  OF  THE  WOODS.  33 

ers ;  but  he  only  laughed  at  them  and  said  "  Toh !  " 
which  is  the  Maya  word  for  "  go  along." 

And  this  was  the  Tobago  representative  of  the 
Mexican  bird  who  had  scared  me  so  badly,  and  whose 
near  relative  I  had  often  seen  in  the  genotes  of  Yuca- 
tan !  He  bore  a  different  name  here,  and  a  more 
dignified,  being  known  as  the  King  of  the  Woods. 
He  sat  upon  the  branch  and  gave  out  at  intervals  his 
sepulchral  cry ;  but  I  feared  him  no  longer,  my  ghost 
was  laid,  the  dread  jumbie  had  resolved  itself  into  a 
phantom — as  all  our  fears  may  do  if  we  will  but  tight 
them  and  drive  them  to  the  wall. 

This  King  of  the  Woods  is  a  curious  bird,  known 
to  the  naturalists  as  the  Prionites  Bahammensis.  It 
is  about  seventeen  inches  in  length,  with  eighteen 
inches  stretch  of  wing,  and  has  a  soft,  silky  plumage 
of  green  and  chestnut.  It  has  a  crimson  iris,  a  very 
pretty  crest,  and  is  altogether  an  attractive  but  modest- 
appearing  bird. 

Its  peculiar  feature  is  the  tail,  which  consists  of 
two  long  feathers,  the  shafts  or  barbs  of  which  are 
entirely  divested  of  their  laminae  or  barbules,  except 
at  the  tips,  where  a  spatulate  inch  or  so  only  remains. 
Some  naturalists  hold  that  the  bird  comes  honestly  by 
this  peculiar  feather  in  a  natural  way,  and  others  that 
it  strips  the  barbules  away  after  it  has  got  its  growth. 

Its  plumage  is  at  its  best  in  the  springtime,  when 
the  spatulate  feathers  are  perfect ;  but  after  the  sum- 
mer molting  these  disappear,  and  can  not  be  seen 
from  October  to  March.  It  digs  a  hole  in  a  marl 
bank  from  five  to  ten  feet  deep,  and  there  lays  three 


34 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


or  four  round  white  eggs,  its  breeding  season  being 
April  and  May,  when  also  it  is  in  finest  feather. 


The  King  of  the  Woods. 


This  bird  feeds  on  berries,  snakes,  beetles  and 
other  insects,  but  never  seizes  its  prey  on  the  wing. 
When  it  has  captured  a  snake  it  never  lets  go  to  get  a 
better  hold,  but  dashes  it  against  the  branch  on  which 
it  is  perched,  for  it  never  remains  on  the  ground  after 
catching  its  prey. 


THE   KING   OF  THE  WOODS.  35 

The  peculiar  cry  of  this  bird,  its  mournful,  melan- 
choly call-note,  has  given  rise  to  many  stories  among 
the  negroes,  who  are  very  superstitious,  and  think 
that  the  bird  itself  is  the  embodied  spirit  of  some  de- 
parted friend. 

It  soon  became  quite  dark  in  the  gorge,  the  cry  of 
the  nigiit  hawk  sounding  overhead,  and  from  the 
woods  came  strange  and  muffled  noises.  Slowly  out 
of  the  gloom  came  a  great  moth,  flapping  its  broad 
wings  with  measured  sweeps,  impressing  me  with  its 
immense  size  as  it  calmly  beat  the  air,  sailing  first  to 
one  side  then  to  the  other.  Its  wings  above  were  the 
purest  azure ;  below  they  were  darker,  with  large  eyes, 
or  beauty  spots ;  gleaming  blue  and  gorgeously,  as  the 
wings  beat  up  and  down.  It  came  toward  me,  but 
evaded  the  pass  I  made  at  it,  and  disappeared  in  the 
gloom  of  the  somber  trees. 

It  was  then  late,  the  lamps  of  night  were  alight  in 
the  sky,  while  the  earth  lamps  (the  glowworms  and 
elaters)  sparkled  and  twinkled  around  me.  They 
danced  and  gleamed  through  the  gorge,  and  even 
lighted  up  my  pathway  along  the  stream,  as  I  stum- 
bled homeward  in  the  darkness. 


CHAPTER  V. 

JACAMARS,    PARROTS,    AND   TROGONS. 

Another  exploring  trip — Wild  bananas  and  plantains — The  little 
bronze  bird  and  his  nest — The  beautiful  hill— Wing  tipping  a 
parrot — A  bird  that  showed  fight. 

I  HAD  made  several  exciysions  into  the  woods  be- 
fore I  essayed  an  exploration  of  the  stream  that 
flowed  past  my  very  door.  Streams  are  the  natural 
highways  of  the  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  any  land. 
They  fix  their  first  residences  near  and  on  the  coast ; 
thence  they  make  forays,  and  extend  their  knowledge 
of  the  region  by  means  of  the  streams  and  river  val- 
leys. Nowhere  is  this  so  prominent  as  in  North 
America,  where  for  many  years  the  great  mountain 
ranges  shut  the  first  settlers  from  Europe  out  of  the 
fertile  territories  beyond  the  Alleghanies  and  the 
Rockies. 

When  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  came  to  the  shore  of 
what  they  afterward  named  New  England,  they  found 
the  coast  Indians  of  one  sort  and  the  dwellers  along 
the  Merrimac  another.  Different  tribes  lived  in  the 
different  river  valleys,  as  the  St.  Lawrenre,  the  Con- 
necticut, the  Hudson,  and  the  Ohio.  The  mountains 
bounding  the  valleys  also  separated  the  dwellers  there 

36 


JACAMARS,  PARROTS,  AND  TROGONS.     37 

from  those  along  the  rivers  beyond,  and  narrow  trails 
only  communicated,  if  indeed  there  were  any  connec- 
tion whatever. 

It  was  most  natural  that  I  should  desire  to  explore 
the  bed  of  my  river.  Where  it  met  the  sea,  near  my 
door,  a  Httle  cove  was  formed,  sheltered  and  still, 
where  I  might  have  floated  a  canoe,  if  I  had  owned 
one.  Opposite  Bamboo  Bank,  as  I  called  my  dwell- 
ing-place, it  was  noisy  and  restless,  though  shallower 
than  at  the  cove,  and  here  flowed  over  smooth  stones 
and  around  large  rocks,  which  served  me  as  stepping- 
stones. 

Above  and  during  its  course  through  the  savanna 
there  was  more  sand  at  the  bottom  than  stones,  and 
there  it  was  shaded  by  grugru  palms  and  clumps  of 
vines,  but  as  it  emerged  from  the  forest  growth  an 
arch  of  bananas  and  wild  plantains  met  above  its  rip- 
pling waters. 

I  had,  in  a  desultory  way,  made  the  acquaintance 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  lower  basin,  such  as  crayfish, 
water  scorpions,  and  mullets,  and  had  caught  many  of 
the  crayfish,  which  I  boiled  and  served  up  at  my  table 
in  delicious  salad.  But  one  bright  morning,  soon  after 
the  sun  had  begun  his  daily  rounds,  I  entered  the 
stream  beneath  the  banana  arch,  determined  to  follow 
it  to  its  source  in  the  deep  wood. 

Birds  of  every  sort  were  flying  across  the  little 
valley  through  which  ran  my  stream,  and  they  all 
seemed  ready  to  burst  with  melody.  I  halted  near 
the  bananas  only  long  enough  to  see  if  there  were 
any  ripening  bunches  of  fruit,  and  noted  one  large 


38  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

cluster,  which  I  cut  off  and  hung  on  a  tree,  against 
my  return. 

Plantains  there  were,  and  enough  of  them,  big  for 
cooking,  and  as  these  are  boiled,  and  never  ripened 
before  being  eaten,  I  left  them  there  for  another  day. 
It  was  comforting  to  have  this  assurance  of  plentiful 
supply  for  the  larder  at  my  very  door,  for  my  stock 
of  provisions  was  running  low.  I  must  now  look  out 
supplies  of  meat  and  farinaceous  food,  and  draw  upon 
the  resources  of  nature. 

So  many  birds  claimed  my  attention  here  that  I 
knew  not  which  way  to  turn :  doves  in  the  thickets, 
water  wagtails  among  the  rocks  in  the  water,  hum- 
ming birds  darting  through  the  air  in  every  direction, 
pigeons  dropping  seeds  from  the  trees  overhead,  and 
parrots  flying  through  the  treetops,  screaming  in 
noisy  chorus.  As  I  climbed  the  brook  bed  the  tree 
ferns  met  overhead,  the  banks  approached  so  near  to- 
gether, steep  and  slippery. 

The  light  filtered  through  the  fern  leaves  in  a 
golden  shower,  the  water  fell  from  rock  to  rock  with 
metallic  melody,  to  which  responded  the  birds  above 
in  strains  antiphonal.  One  might  wander  here,  fancy- 
ing Orpheus  himself  had  returned  from  the  Plutonian 
shades;  and  as  if  to  confirm  the  illusion,  the  trees 
and  shrubs  began  to  nod  their  heads  and  toss  their 
branches,  in  response  to  the  salutation  of  the  morning 
breeze. 

Perched  upon  a  dry  stick  projecting  from  the 
bank,  a  bird  in  garb  of  golden  bronze,  with  inor- 
dinately large  bill  and  weak  little  feet,  sat  regarding 


JACAMARS,  PARROTS,  AND  TROGONS. 


39 


me.  He  must  have  known  I  was  out  hunting  for 
birds  with  pretty  plumage,  but  doubtless  his  modesty 
did  not  allow  him  to  imagine  that  he  belonged  to  that 
class,  for  he  sat  there  quite  indifferent  to  my  presence. 


Near  the  stick  on  which  he  roosted  was  a  small  round 
hole  in  the  bank,  and  this  was  the  entrance  to  his 
domicile,  where  his  little  wife  kept  house  and  home, 
a  couple  of  feet  within  the  entrance,  brooding  over 
two  or  three  eggs  of  purest  white. 

This  bird,  with  iridescent  coppery  hues,  who  sat 


40  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

lazily  sunning  himself  on  the  stick,  was  the  jacamar 
{Galbula  viridis\  a  name  probably  derived  from  the 
Brazilian  rendering  of  his  cry  of  '' jacamar i,''^ 

He  is  about  ten  inches  in  length,  and  his  wings 
stretch  eleven,  when  they  are  spread  in  his  short 
flights  after  insects  in  the  air.  He  is  a  sweet-tem- 
pered, unsuspicious  dweller  by  the  sides  of  shady 
paths  and  river  banks,  doing  harm  to  nobody ;  but  be- 
cause he  has  a  pretty  coat  of  feathers,  and  vain  woman 
desires  those  feathers  in  her  bonnets,  poor  jacamar's 
life  has  been  placed  in  jeopardy,  and  I  doubt  if  the 
barbarous  bird  hunters  have  left  a  dozen  of  his  tribe 
in  the  island. 

A  little  waterfall  trickled  down  a  broad  stair  of 
rock  and  formed  a  small  basin  of  quiet  water  at  its 
foot,  above  which  hung  the  lacelike  leaves  of  the  tree 
ferns. 

Halting  here  a  moment,  I  heard  the  faint  hoot  of 
the  King  of  the  Woods,  and  imitating  his  cry  I  soon 
brought  him  to  the  stream,  where  he  perched  on  a 
tree  near  an  immense  palm.  He  looked  about  stupid- 
ly, snapped  rather  viciously  at  a  second  King  who 
had  also  responded  to  my  call,  and  replied  every  time 
I  asked  the  question,  "  Who  ? " 

"Who?"  I  said,  and  "Who?"  solemnly  an- 
swered King  Prion. 

After  bandying  words  awhile,  and  thoroughly 
mystifying  the  wondering  birds,  I  went  on  up  the 
stream,  where  the  surroundings  were  more  open.  A 
kingfisher  dashed  past  me  with  a  whiz  and  a  whirr, 
cleaving  the  air  like  a  flashing  topaz,  and  sending  the 


JACAMARS,  PARROTS,  AND  TROGONS.     41 

water  flying  in  spray  when  he  dipped  toward  a  pool, 
above  which  he  suddenly  arrested  his  flight,  and  sat 
alertly  upon  a  dead  limb  watching  me.  He  was  a  per- 
fect gem,  brighter  in  colors,  and  smaller  than  his  Amer- 
ican cousin,  being  about  eight  inches  long  and  eleven 
across  his  wings. 

Plashing  through  the  pools,  climbing  over  slippery 
rocks,  and  dodging  overhanging  branches,  I  did  not 
notice  at  first  that  I  had  reached  a  higher  level,  where 
the  stream  spread  out  into  a  placid  little  pond,  sand- 
rimmed,  and  nestling  within  a  wall  of  ferns  and 
mountain  palms. 

The  scene  delighted  me,  for  looking  up  I  beheld  a 
hill  slope  studded  with  tree  ferns  and  green  hearts, 
cedars  and  bamboos,  on  the  crown  of  which  was  a 
group  of  tall  palmistes.  It  was  a  conical  hill,  sloping 
gradually  to  the  apex,  rising  like  an  artificial  earth- 
work above  the  dense  forest  growth  around  it. 

Beneath  the  trees  was  a  turf  of  finest  grass,  in- 
terspersed with  the  waving  plumes  of  a  taller  variety, 
the  light  and  vivid  green  of  which  contrasted  bright- 
ly with  the  somberness  of  the  circumjacent  forest. 
My  heart  went  out  to  that  spot  at  once,  and  as  I 
climbed  the  hill  I  determined  that  this  should  be  the 
site  of  my  summer  residence;  for  during  the  heat 
of  the  approaching  rainy  season  the  seaside  hut  would 
be  intolerable,  lying  so  lo^  and  near  the  heated 
sands. 

Arrived  at  the  palm-crowned  summit,  I  gazed 
upon  the  scene  spread  around  me  with  great  delight, 
for  it  included  a  goodly  portion  of  the  north  end  of 
5 


42 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


the  island.  I  could  see  the  outlying  islets  and  the 
foam-flecked  promontories  that  guarded  my  seaside 
home,  as  well  as  vast  areas  of  forest,  covering  swell- 
ing hills  and  deepening  valleys. 

Among  the  palm  trunks  there  was  space  sufficient 
for  the  erection  of  a  small  house,  and  I  then  and 
there  marked  out  the  plan  of  it.  Then,  refreshing 
niyseK  with  the  glorious  view  again,  and   inhaling 


Tlie  Tobugo  Trogon. 


deep  draughts  of  the  sweet,  pure  air,  I  descended  to 
the  stream.  Like  Crusoe,  after  he  had  made  his 
famous  excursion  to  th^  other  side  of  his  island,  "  I 
found  that  side  of  the  Island  where  1  now  was  much 
pleasanter  than  mine;  the  open  or  savanna  Fields 
sweet  and  adorned  with  Flowers  and  Grass,  and  full 
of  very  fine  Woods.     I  saw  abundance  of  Parrots, 


JACAMARS,  PARROTS,  AND  TROGONS.     43 

and  fain  would  have  caught  one,  if  possible,  to  have 
kept  it  to  be  tame  and  taught  it  to  speak  to  me." 

Halfway  down  the  slope  I  heard  voices  in  the  air, 
apparently  over  the  forest,  but  approaching  the  hill. 
"Quite  right,  quite  right,"  screamed  a  shrill  voice, 
to  which  another  responded,  "  Eight,  quite  right." 
Looking  around,  I  saw  a  pair  of  parrots  swiftly  flying 
toward  me,  quite  high  in  the  air.  As  they  got  about 
overhead  I  aimed  my  gun  well  ahead  of  them  and 
fired. 

One  of  them  screamed,  faltered  in  its  flight  a  bit, 
then  whirled  over  and  over  toward  the  forest  beneath. 
Its  mate  followed  it  a  few  yards,  but  soon  recovered 
its  course  and  flew  on,  screaming  "  Quite  right,  quite 
right,"  though  evidently  it  was  altogether  wrong. 
Marking  down  the  wounded  parrot,  I  tore  my  way 
through  the  undergrowth  on  the  other  side  of  the 
pond,  and  finally  came  upon  him  on  his  back  in  a 
tangle  of  vines. 

He  was  only  wing  tipped,  and  as  savage  as  a 
bear;  he  threw  himself  back  in  posture  of  defense 
and  invited  me  to  come  on.  I  went,  but  a  moment 
later  I  retreated  with  lacerated  hands,  while  the  parrot 
fairly  yelled  in  his  fury  and  struggled  to  get  at  me 
again.  He  couldn't  retreat,  and  he  knew  it ;  but  he 
was  full  of  fight,  and  it  was  a  busy  half  hour  before 
I  had  secured  him  by  wrapping  him  round  and  round 
with  lengths  of  lialine  cord.  His  eyes  glared,  and  he 
muttered  threats  of  vengeance  through  his  beak ;  but 
he  was  helpless,  and  I  hoped  to  get  him  home  in 
safety. 


4A  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

He  was  fifteen  inches  in  length,  with  twenty-six 
spread  of  wing,  bright  green  and  yellow  as  to  his 
plumage,  and  a  very  robust  and  handsome  bird.  I 
found,  upon  later  investigation,  that  this  species  breeds 
in  April  and  May,  making  the  nest  in  a  cavity  in  the 
broken  shaft  of  a  tall  palm,  and  returning  every  year, 
digging  it  deeper  and  deeper.  Here  two  round  white 
eggs  are  laid,  and  two  young  are  reared.  If  caught 
very  young  the  birds  are  easily  taught  to  speak,  and 
even  the  old  ones ;  but  there  is  as  much  difference  in 
parrots  as  in  individuals.  They  feed  on  the  seeds 
of  the  milk  wood,  soap  wood,  wild  cashew,  clammy 
cherry,  pigeon  peas,  pomme  de  liamie^  etc.,  according 
to  the  season. 

Depositing  my  belligerent  bird  in  a  safe  place, 
securely  bound,  I  carefully  searched  the  woods  for 
other  captures,  bringing  them  to  me  by  a  call  the 
Caribs  had  taught  me  years  before.  I  have  found 
that  in  deep  woods  it  is  better  to  call  the  birds  to 
you,  than  to  go  out  hunting  blindly  for  them.  Sit- 
ting down  upon  a  rock  I  endeavored  to  attract  what- 
ever of  bird  life  the  woods  contained  within  reach  of 
my  voice.  The  first  to  respond  were  the  manakins 
and  thrushes,  who  seemed  quite  indignant  that  I  paid 
no  attention  to  them,  and  almost  flirted  their  tails  in 
my  face,  in  their  attempts  to  convince  me  that  they 
were  there. 

At  last  I  heard  a  subdued  whistle,  a  muffled  cry, 
that  told  me  of  the  presence  of  trogons.  I  whistled 
in  reply,  and  soon  had  the  satisfaction  of  hearing 
another ;  but  it  ceased,  and  I  had  given  it  up  when. 


JACAMARS,  PARROTS,  AND  TROGONS.  45 

glancing  my  eye  upward,  I  saw  the  gleam  of  warm 
carmine  and  made  out  the  figure  of  a  bird  sitting  on 
a  branch.  He  fell  a  victim  to  his  curiosity,  and 
others  also,  who  came  about  in  numbers,  giving  me 
a  good  chance  to  study  their  motions. 

They  are  very  inquisitive  birds,  and  can  be  at- 
tracted by  imitating  their  whistles  at  any  time,  an- 
swering promptly  until  they  are  near  the  person  call- 
ing them,  when  they  do  not  fly  away,  but  sometimes 
sit  still,  stupidly  staring. 

Their  note  is  in  four  distinct  sentences — "koo- 
koo-koo-koo" — their  flights  are  short  and  frequent, 
and,  from  the  softness  of  their  plumage,  silent  and 
spiritlike  are  their  approaches.  The  trogons  are  pe- 
culiar chiefly  to  the  tropical  Americas,  the  most 
beautiful  of  the  family  being  found  in  Mexico  and 
Central  America — the  Trogon  resplendens — the  Quet- 
zal of  the  Aztecs,  or  the  royal  bird  of  the  Monte- 
zumas. 

The  species  found  in  Tobago  is  the  Trogon  co- 
laris^  a  very  beautiful  bird,  and  one  much  sought 
after  by  the  hunters  for  the  millinery  markets.  The 
male  is  ten  inches  in  length,  and  fifteen  across  his 
wings,  has  a  yellow  bill,  small  black  feet,  dark  eye, 
pink  eyelid,  with  a  bare  space  of  white  beneath  the 
lower  lid.  The  whole  under  surface  of  his  body  is 
rich  carmine,  with  a  crescent  of  white  across  the 
breast,  and  beneath  is  a  gorget  of  green.  The  upper 
parts  are  a  golden  green,  and  the  entire  aspect  of  the 
bird  in  the  woods  is  that  of  a  creature  especially  fitted 
for  glowing  and  tropical  surroundings.     The  female 


46  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

has  soberer  colors  than  the. male,  but  is  a  fit  consort 
for  her  beautiful  spouse. 


Royal  Trogon  of  Mexico. 

It  does  not  take  long  in  the  telling ;  but  the  tale 
of  a  day  is  soon  over.     By  the  time  the  trogons  had 


JACAMARS,  PARROTS,  AND  TROGONS.     47 

ceased  to  engage  my  attention  the  woods  were  get- 
ting dusky  again,  and  the  night  birds  were  stirring. 
It  was  perhaps  two  miles  back  to  camp,  but  I  had 
come  by  a  circuitous  course,  and  resolved  to  open  up 
a  more  direct  path  between  the  two  places  without 
delay. 

Psittacus,  the  parrot  (for  that  was  his  name — Psit- 
taousfestivus  ^),  was  still  undaunted,  and  showed  me 
what  he  meant  to  do  when  once  he  had  regained  his 
freedom.  I  made  a  soft  bed  of  moss  for  him  in  my 
game  basket,  carried  him  carefully  to  camp,  and  that 
night  constructed  a  temporary  cage  out  of  a  biscuit 
box.  He  raged  hke  a  fury,  at  iirst,  when  let  loose, 
but  finally  accepted  the  situation,  ate  the  cracker  I 
gave  him,  and  settled  down  quietly  for  the  night. 

*  The  Pdittacus  festivus,  or  "  festive  parrot,"  inhabits  the 
north  part  of  South  America — Guiana,  Cayenne,  the  Brazils,  and 
particularly  the  lower  Amazons.  ...  It  is  docile  and  easily  tamed, 
and  being  of  an  imitative  disposition,  readily  learns  to  pronounce 
words  and  sentences  with  great  clearness  and  precision. — Natural- 
ist's Library. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

SOME   QUEER   AND   TROUBLESOME   NEIGHBORS. 

Fireflies  and  fire  beetles — Centipedes,  chigoes,  and  scorpions — 
Edible  grubs  from  the  palm — Processions  of  ants  with  um- 
brellas. 

My  solitary  life  became  so  attractive  that  my  only 
fear  was  that  it  might  be  broken  in  upon — at  any  mo- 
ment my  retreat  might  be  invaded.  With  this  fear 
upon  me,  I  did  nothing  that  would  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  passing  boats,  such  as  keeping  a  bright  fire 
burning  at  night,  or  creating  a  smoke  by  day.  The 
little  food  that  I  needed  to  have  cooked  was  prepared 
with  a  very  small  fire,  which  the  heat  of  the  climate 
rendered  unnecessary  for  warmth. 

I  had  some  books,  but  managed  to  read  them  main- 
ly by  daylight ;  or  if  at  night,  I  resorted  to  a  simple 
device.  My  meadow  was  always  alive  with  fire  bee- 
tles, glorious  great  insects,  which  sported  there  in 
myriads,  and  gleamed  among  the  trees  of  the  adjacent 
forest  as  well.  In  size  they  were  superior  to  our 
northern  fireflies,  some  of  them  being  nearly  two 
inches  in  length.  Their  luminous  spots  were  on  their 
shoulders,  one  on  each  side  of  the  head,  like  lamps  on 
a  carriage,  and  from  these  they  flashed  a  mild  though 

48 


SOME  QUEER  AND  TROUBLESOME  NEIGHBORS.     49 

steady  radiance ;  quite  unlike  our  firefly,  which  gives 
out  only  a  feeble,  intermittent  light.  This  species  is 
the  Pyrophorus  noctilucus^  or  the  nocturnal  light 
bearer,  and  is  peculiar,  as  the  naturalists  say,  to  the 
tropics.  In  Cuba  and  Puerto  Kico  they  are  called 
GUGujos^  and  the  ladies  of  those  islands  attach  them  to 
their  dresses,  as  bright  ornaments,  where  they  flash 
and  gleam  like  costliest  gems. 

Well,  in  short,  I  caught  and  bottled  a  lot  of  those 
fire  beetles,  and  used  them  as  substitutes  for  candles. 
The  imprisoned  beetles  emitted  a  pale,  greenish  light, 
and  by  holding  a  bottle  full  near  a  printed  page,  I 
was  enabled  to  read  quite  readily.  They  even  served 
to  illuminate  my  hut,  for  I  caught  a  great  many, 
and  putting  them  in  white  flasks,  the  mouths  of 
which  were  covered  with  muslin,  I  hung  them 
around  the  walls.  I  released  them  every  morning, 
and  at  night  imprisoned  a  fresh  supply,  feeding 
them  on  sweets,  of  which  they  partook  with  evident 
pleasure. 

These  insects  were  really  very  serviceable ;  but 
there  were  others,  some  of  which  had  made  their  ap- 
pearance in  my  hut,  not  so  pleasant  to  contemplate. 
Probably  the  worst  pests  of  the  tropics  are  the  centi- 
pede, tarantula,  and  scorpion.  All  of  them  like  to 
hide  beneath  the  thatch  of  the  hut,  and  all  are  hide- 
ous in  appearance.  The  stings  of  all  three  are  poi- 
sonous, sometimes  fatally  so,  especially  to  young  chil- 
dren. Of  the  three,  the  centipede,  I  think,  is  the 
most  to  be  feared,  as  it  moves  almost  with  the  rapid- 
ity of  light,  leaving  behind  it — if  it  traverses  the  limb 


SOME  QUEER  AND  TROUBLESOME  NEIGHBORS.     51 

or  body  of  a  human  being — a  venomous  track,  punc-  • 
tured  in  the  skin. 

Its  poisonous  punctures  are  made  by  the  front  pair 
of  feet,  which  are  supplied  with  poisonous  ducts  or 
glands ;  but  its  sting  is  even  worse,  and  sufficient  to 
cause  fever  in  a  grown  person.  The  natives  fear  it 
far  more  than  they  do  the  scorpion  or  the  tarantula, 
and  have  a  superstitious  dread  of  it.  With  its  flat, 
glistening  body,  its  scores  of  legs  twinkling,  and  its 
rapid  motions,  it  appears  the  very  embodiment  of  evil 
— as  it  is. 

As  to  the  tarantulas,  I  saw  but  few  of  them ;  but 
one  leaped  at  my  hand  one  morning,  and  came  so  near 
seizing  it  with  its  horrible  hairy  legs  that  I  was  very 
much  shocked.  I  killed  it,  and  then  instituted  a  search 
for  others  of  its  kind,  finding  but  one,  its  mate,  which 
I  sent  to  join  the  first. 

A  more  insidious  foe  is  the  chigoe,  or  jigger,  a  spe- 
cies of  fiea,  which  burrows  beneath  the  skin  of  one's 
toes,  unless  one  is  constantly  on  the  watch,  and  there 
lays  eggs  which  develop  into  festering  sores. 

Being  constantly  on  the  alert,  knowing  my  de- 
fenseless condition,  so  far  from  all  human  help,  I  for- 
tunately escaped  every  kind  of  insect  inimical  to  me, 
and  was  not  bitten  even  by  an  ant,  though  this  mi- 
nute insect  was  abundant  and  sometimes  annoying. 
Indeed,  I  got  more  pleasure  from  watching  the  vari- 
ous species  of  ants  at  work  than  I  experienced  an- 
noyance from  all  together.  That  was  a  momentous 
occasion,  for  instance,  when  I  first  saw  the  marching 
millions  of  them  in  the  forest.     I  had  taken  the  trail 


52  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

leading  from  my  hut  on  the  beach  into  the  deep  forest 
— a  path  over  which  I  had  walked  at  least  a  score  of 
times  before — and  I  presently  reached  a  spot  where 
the  shade  was  so  dense  that  it  made  a  sort  of  twilight. 

Suddenly  there  appeared  to  my  astonished  eyes 
something  that  caused  me  to  rub  them  in  doubt  wheth- 
er I  were  not  dreaming ;  for  right  in  front  of  me,  cross- 
ing the  path,  was  a  band  of  green,  stretching  across 
the  dun-colored  earth.  And  as  my  eyes  became 
accustomed  to  the  dim  light,  so  that  I  could  observe 
it  more  particularly,  I  saw  that  this  green  ribbon 
was  moving  regularly  along,  like  the  belt  over  a  fac- 
tory wheel.  At  first  it  seemed  to  be  sohd  and  un- 
broken, but  soon  I  detected  many  divisions  in  the  line, 
and  saw  that  it  was  composed  of  thousands  of  bits  of 
leaves,  each  about  half  an  inch  in  diameter.  Upon 
turning  over  some  of  these  leaf -fragments,  I  found 
that  the  motive  power  of  each  one  was  a  big  red  ant, 
who  clung  to  it  desperately,  and  as  soon  as  released 
took  its  place  in  the  ranks  again.  For  many  minutes 
I  watched  the  verdant  procession,  but  it  seemed  no 
nearer  the  end  than  when  I  first  saw  it. 

Out  of  the  dusky  woods  on  one  side  the  path  it 
emerged,  and  into  the  depths  on  the  other  it  disap- 
peared, traveling  tirelessly  onward  to  some  destination 
unknown  to  me.  I  could  not  very  well  trace  its  course, 
the  forest  being  so  dense  ;  but  there  must  have  been 
millions  of  ants  in  the  column,  all  marching  in  per- 
fect order,  and  evidently  with  some  definite  end  in 
view. 

We  know  that  these  insects  have  excited  the  won- 


SOME  QUEER  AND  TROUBLESOME  NEIGHBORS.     53 
der  and  admiration  of  all  observers,  from  the  time  of 


"/^^ 


Solo- 
mon to  the 
present.     They 
seem    to    possess 
instincts    which    border 
close  upon  reason,  for  they 
build  bridges,  bore  tunnels, 
excavate  galleries;  some  of 
them  make  slaves  of  other  ants, 
and  others  keep  a  sort  of   insect 
cow  that  yields 
them    milk. 
Their  life 
histories 


The  Army  of 
Ants. 


^ 


^*=^^%^^*e^ 


have  been  carefully  studied  by  some  of  the  most  emi- 
nent naturalists. 


54  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

The  very  species  that  I  had  the  good  fortune  to 
find  crossing  my  path,  that  morning  in  the  forest,  is 
described  by  Mr.  Alfred  Wallace,  who  found  it  in  the 
Amazons  region  of  Brazil.  It  seems  to  prefer  a  dis- 
trict where  red  earth  is  abundant,  and  there  it  builds 
great  mounds,  sometimes  twenty  feet  across  and  three 
or  four  feet  in  height.  "These  hillocks,"  says  the 
famous  naturalist  just  mentioned,  "are  riddled  with 
holes  in  every  direction,  and  into  them  the  ants  may 
be  seen  dragging  little  circular  pieces  of  leaf,  which 
they  cut  off  from  particular  trees  preferred  by  them. 
Orange  trees  and  leguminous  shrubs  suffer  most  from 
their  ravages,  and  these  they  sometimes  entirely  strip 
of  their  foliage  in  a  night  or  two.  Young  plants,  too, 
suffer  very  much,  and  can  not  be  grown  in  some 
places  on  account  of  them.  They  remain  in  one  lo- 
cality for  a  long  time ;  for,  on  my  observing  to  a  gen- 
tleman at  a  cattle  estate  near  Para  how  remarkably 
the  track  of  these  ants  was  worn  across  the  pathway 
and  through  the  grass,  he  informed  me  that  he  had 
observed  them  marching  along  that  very  track  for 
fifteen  or  twenty  years." 

This,  then,  was  the  explanation  of  the  green  rib- 
bon across  the  trail :  It  was  composed  of  ants  carrying 
to  their  nests  leaves  with  which  to  line  their  cells. 
Those  that  do  this  work  are  what  is  known  in  the 
ant  world  as  "  neuters " ;  they  are  very  strong  and 
have  tremendous  jaws.  It  would  be  next  to  impossi- 
ble to  depict  this  band  of  ants  under  their  leaf  shelters 
with  any  degree  of  accuracy.  In  fact,  a  picture  of 
that  green  strip,  with  no  hint  of  the  ants  which  car- 


SOME  QUEER  AND  TROUBLESOME  NEIGHBORS.     55 

ried  it  along,  would  remind  one  of  the  Dutch  artist's 
celebrated  picture.  When  he  delivered  it  to  his 
patron,  who  had  ordered  a  painting  of  the  Israelites 
crossing  the  Red  Sea,  there  was  nothing  visible  but  a 
"broad  expanse  of  water. 

''  But  where  are  the  Israelites  ? "  demanded  the 
astonished  purchaser. 

"  Oh,  they  are  all  gone  over." 
"  But  the  Egyptians,  where  are  they  ? " 
"Why,  they  are  all  drowned!     Only  the  sea  is 
left,  and  that  is  before  you." 

These  insects,  which  are  known  as  the  great-headed 
red  ants,  not  only  use  their  powerful  scissors-jaws  upon 
the  leaves  of  trees  and  plants,  but  should  they  find  a 
tablecloth  or  handkerchief,  or  anything  of  that  kind 
on  the  ground,  will  cut  out  of  it  neat  little  semicircu- 
lar holes,  taking  the  pieces  away  to  their  nests. 
Whether  or  not  they  use  these  bits  of  cloth  for  lining 
their  nests,  or  put  them  to  their  proper  use  as  napkins 
and  handkerchiefs,  I  can  not  say. 

At  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  however,  the  In- 
dians of  Brazil  make  barbarous  reprisals  for  all  their 
devastations.  "  Then,"  says  Mr.  Wallace,  "  the  female 
ants  come  out  of  their  holes  in  great  numbers,  and  are 
caught  by  the  Indians  by  the  basketful.  The  insects 
are  very  sluggish,  and  never  fly,  though  furnished  at 
the  time  with  wings.  When  they  come  out  there  is 
great  excitement  in  the  Indian  village,  all  the  young 
men,  women,  and  children  setting  themselves  to  the 
catching  of  the  ^saubas,'  as  they  call  them.  They 
are   kept    in   calabashes    and   bottle-shaped   baskets, 


56  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

the  mouths  of  which  are  stopped  up  with  a  few 
leaves. 

"  It  is  a  rather  singular  sight  to  see  for  the  first 
time  an  Indian  taking  his  breakfast  in  the  'sauba' 
season.  The  insects  are  actually  eaten  alive,  the  ant 
being  held  by  its  head,  as  we  would  hold  a  strawberry 
by  its  stem,  and  the  abdomen  bitten  off.  The  only 
part  eaten  is  the  abdomen,  which  is  very  rich  and  fatty, 
from  the  mass  of  undeveloped  eggs.  Having  secured 
the  edible  part  of  the  ant,  the  head  and  thorax,  with 
the  wings  and  legs  attached,  are  thrown  to  the  ground, 
where  the  wretched  insect  crawls  about  as  though  un- 
aware of  the  loss  of  its  posterior  extremities.  The 
Indians  not  only  eat  them  fresh,  but  also  smoke  and 
salt  them  for  future  use,  regarding  them  as  the  choic- 
est of  their  dainties." 

I  was  not  aware  of  all  the  uses  to  which  these  ants 
could  be  put,  when  they  crossed  my  trail  in  the  woods ; 
but  if  I  had  been,  I  doubt  greatly  that  I  should  have 
considered  them  available  as  articles  of  diet,  even 
though  my  larder  was  not  always  well  supplied. 

I  did  not  suffer  from  lack  of  sustenance,  to  be 
sure,  but  I  craved  greater  variety ;  so  one  day  I  cut 
down  a  tall  "palmiste,"  or  cabbage  palm,  in  order 
to  obtain  its  terminal  bud,  which  is  most  delicious 
boiled  and  served  as  cabbage  or  cauliflower.  It 
might  seem  an  act  of  vandalism,  this  cutting  down  a 
tree  over  a  hundred  feet  in  height ;  but  as  there  were 
thousands  of  those  palms,  and  no  one  had  a  better 
claim  to  them  than  myself,  I  felt  that  it  would  not  be 
very  much  missed. 


SOME  QUEER  AND  TROUBLESOME  NEIGHBORS.   57 

It  was  within  this  palm,  I  was  going  to  say,  that  I 
found  a  grub  or  beetle  larva  of  the  so-called  palm 
worm,  which  is  considered  a  great  delicacy  by  the  na- 
tives. They  roast  it  and  fry  it,  as  well ;  but  though  it 
might  be  palatable,  I  could  not  bring  myself  to  eat 
it,  and  can  not  testify  as  to  its  excellence. 

To  one  who  can  find  company  as  I  did  in  bird, 
beast,  and  insect,  and  to  whom  all  the  "  lower  orders  " 
have  stories  to  relate,  the  time  will  never  seem  to 
lag.  My  chief  concern  was,  that  so  much  appealed  to 
me,  I  felt  the  days  were  not  half  long  enough ;  and  so 
much  arises  now  in  retrospect  that  I  am  unable  to  de- 
scribe all  I  saw  and  found  most  interesting. 

What  suits  one  person,  to  be  sure,  may  not  suit 
another,  and  if  my  story  fails  to  interest  those  for 
whom  it  is  written,  I  can  only  plead  that  it  is  the  ac- 
count of  my  doings,  such  as  they  were,  and  I  have 
nothing  else  to  relate. 


CHAPTEE  yil. 

HOW   I    CAUGHT   A   TARTAR. 

Psittacus,  the  wild  parrot,  surprises  me  by  speaking  French.  Not 
like  Crusoe's  parrot,  but  a  very  bad  boy  indeed — He  finds 
a  mate  and  rears  a  little  family. 

In  the  chapter  next  preceding  the  last  I  told  of 
my  capture  of  a  parrot,  but  I  have  not  related  how 
the  parrot  captured  me.  He  was  placed  in  a  wooden 
box,  and  after  I  had  eaten  my  supper  and  made  every- 
thing snug  for  the  night  I  went  to  sleep,  as  usual,  in 
my  hammock.  Shortly  after  daybreak  the  next 
morning  I  was  awakened  by  a  gentle  agitation  of  my 
hammock,  and  peering  out,  saw  in  the  gloom  some- 
thing clinging  to  the  lower  end.  Looking  up  quickly,  I 
said,  "  Hola  !  Who's  there  ?  "  There  was  an  answer- 
ing chuckle,  and  a  gruff  voice  replied,  "  Hullo !  hullo, 
massa ! " 

A  reply  was  certainly  more  than  I  had  expected, 
and  I  leaped  out  of  the  hammock  in  alarm,  kicking 
the  door  open  to  let  in  the  light.  Then  I  saw  my 
prisoner  of  the  night  before  hanging  to  the  netting, 
in  which  he  had  torn  a  large  hole,  and  swinging  glee- 
fully from  side  to  side.  He  was  master  of  the  situa- 
tion, for  he  resisted  with  beak  and  claw  every  effort 

58 


HOW  I  CAUGHT  A  TARTAR.  59 

I  made  to  capture  him,  and  so  I  left  him  in  possession 
while  I  took  my  bath  and  prepared  my  breakfast. 

During  breakfast,  and  long  after,  I  speculated 
upon  the  strange  fact  that  this  wild  parrot  should  be 
able  to  speak,  and  in  my  own  tongue.  My  desire  to 
make  his  further  acquaintance  overcame  my  fear  of 
his  formidable  beak,  and  so,  taking  a  banana  and  a 
cracker  as  peace  offerings,  I  looked  into  the  hut.  A 
sorrowful  sight  rewarded  me,  for  the  bird  had 
wreaked  his  wrath  on  the  hammock  to  such  an  extent 
that  a  portion  of  it  was  hanging  in  strings,  and  he 
was  now  beginning  on  the  palm  thatch  overhead.  He 
desisted  as  I  appeared,  and  dropped  to  the  floor, 
where  he  with  difficulty  waddled  to  a  perch  on  a 
barrel,  and  held  out  his  foot  for  the  banana.  His 
aspect  was  still  fierce,  but  not  wholly  resentful,  and 
under  cover  of  the  food  offering  I  began  to  talk  to 
him.  Having  his  mouth  full,  at  first  he  refused  to 
talk,  only  muttering  unintelligibly,  but  when  the 
banana  was  gone  he  cocked  up  his  head  and  said  in 
French,  "  Give  me  another !  " 

This  was  another  surprise,  for  the  nearest  island 
in  which  French  is  spoken  is  Granada,  nearly  a  hun- 
dred miles  distant.  But  this  was  not  the  only  phrase 
he  could  utter  in  that  language,  for  he  rolled  out 
quite  a  string  of  epithets  in  the  French  patois  spoken 
by  the  common  people  of  the  Antilles.  I  was  amazed 
and  grieved — amazed  at  his  knowledge,  and  grieved 
that  he  should  prove  such  a  sad  sinner.  I  had  hoped 
for  a  good  little  bird  like  Crusoe's,  who  would  be  a 
decent  companion  to  me  and  talk  decorously ;  but  in- 


60  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

stead  I  had  got  a  regular  land  pirate,  a  swaggering 
swashbuckler  of  a  fellow,  full  of  wricked  ness  and 
strange  words. 

Psittacus  was  watching  mj  face,  and  seemed  to 
take  notice  of  every  change,  for  he  held  his  head  over 
to  one  side  and  actually  leered  at  me.  Disappointed 
as  I  was  and  vexed,  I  could  not  but  laugh  at  this 
w^orldly-wise  old  bird.  After  all,  it  was  not  his  fault 
that  he  was  here.  If  I  had  not  so  unceremoniously 
stopped  his  flight  that  morning,  when  he  was  winging 
his  way  westward  in  company  with  his  mate,  he 
would  now  be  rejoicing  in  his  freedom,  instead  of  sit- 
ting here  a  wounded  prisoner. 

It  was  my  own  fault ;  no  one  else  was  to  blame, 
least  of  all  poor  Psittacus,  and  I  resolved  to  do  all  in 
my  power  to  make  amends  for  my  brutal  treatment 
of  him,  and  to  endure  his  vagaries  patiently.  So  in 
this  spirit  I  approached  him,  and  he  was  quick  to 
perceive  the  change.  He  climed  up  my  outstretched 
arm  at  once  and  nestled  up  against  my  ear,  purling  to 
himself  and  murmuring,  "  Bon  comrads^  hon  eom- 
radeP  This  cheered  me,  though  I  was  rather  un- 
easy at  his  proximity  to  my  face;  but  he  had  not, 
evidently,  connected  me  with  the  man  who  had 
brought  his  troubles  upon  him,  and  appeared  to  have 
made  up  his  mind  to  accept  both  me  and  the  new 
conditions  without  further  ado. 

From  that  time  forth  a  spirit  of  camaraderie  ex- 
isted between  us  that  nothing  could  impair.  Instead 
of  regarding  me  as  the  author  of  all  his  woes,  he 
rather  looked  upon  me  as  his  great  and  good  friend 


HOW  I  CAUGHT  A  TARTAR.  61 

and  purveyor.  He  had  the  utmost  confidence  in  me ; 
having  accepted  me  through  intuition,  nothing  what- 
ever could  make  him  distrust  his  judgment. 

His  manners  did  not  mend,  though,  I  grieve  to  say 
— not  through  any  fault  of  his,  but  because  he  had  no 
doubt  about  it  that  they  were  the  best  manners  in 
the  world.  Like  his  speech,  they  had  been  acquired 
probably  by  contact  with  some  member  or  members 
of  my  own  family,  and  his  perception  was  not  fine 
enough  to  note  the  distinctions  between  the  diflFerent 
strata  composing  human  society. 

He  was  like  a  child  in  this  respect,  accepting 
everybody  and  everything  at  its  face  value,  without 
question.  I  resolved  to  teach  him,  if  possible,  by  my 
example,  as  it  was  impossible  to  reach  his  intelligence 
by  precept ;  but  I  must  confess  that  Conscience  had  a 
laugh  at  my  expense.  "  What  right  had  a  would-be 
murderer  to  set  himself  up  as  the  moral  instructor 
of  one  who  had  only  escaped  his  deadly  aims  by  ac- 
cident ? " 

That  was  a  blunt  question,  but  a  sharp  thrust, 
nevertheless,  and  I  had  to  confess  that  Conscience 
had  the  best  of  it.  Luckily,  Psittacus  could  not  see 
what  a  struggle  was  going  on  in  my  mind,  or  else  he, 
sharp  old  rascal  that  he  was,  would  have  taken  great 
advantage  of  it.  At  it  was,  he  escaped  many  a  repri- 
mand on  account  of  my  qualms,  and  though  he  doubt- 
less attributed  the  tenderness  and  consideration  with 
which  I  treated  him  to  his  own  personal  attractions, 
yet  he  got  the  benefit,  just  the  same. 

I  did  want  to  thrash  him  soundly  when  he  tore  my 


62  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

hammock  and  made  holes  through  the  roof,  destroyed 
my  bird  skins  and  threw  pebbles  into  my  flour ;  but  I 
restrained  myself,  and  punished  him  in  a  different 
way.  Seeing  that  he  was  indeed  incorrigible,  or  ap- 
peared to  be,  I  fastened  him  to  one  of  the  palm  trees 
by  means  of  a  long  slender  chain.  It  was  arranged 
so  that  he  could  climb  up  and  down  the  smooth  bole 
at  will  and  perch  in  the  lower  leaves  ;  and  he  at  first 
took  great  delight  in  walking  along  the  smooth  mid- 
ribs and  sliding  down.  But  this  at  last  palled  upon 
him,  and  one  day,  after  sitting  long  in  deep  medita- 
tion, he  hobbled  up  to  me  and  said,  with  a  decided 
shake  of  his  head,  "  Lora  good."  I  took  this  to  mean 
that  he  would  not  tear  things  to  pieces  any  more, 
but  I  was  doul  tful,  and  I  glanced  from  my  posses- 
sions to  him  and  back  again  inquiringly,  at  which  he 
repeated,  "  Good,  Lora  good."  I  set  him  loose  again, 
and  he  really  seemed  to  feel  on  honor,  and  behaved 
so  prettily  that  I  feared  his  end  was  near  and  death 
would  deprive  me  of  him  just  as  he  had  come  to  be 
so  companionable.  For  after  that  he  sat  at  table  with 
me,  conversing  gravely  in  his  polyglot  dialect,  and 
tried  to  accompany  me  wherever  I  went.  If  I  left 
him  to  go  on  a  hunt,  he  would  perch  on  the  ridgepole 
of  the  hut  and  await  my  return  with  great  anxiety, 
hailing  me  at  sight  with  loud  cries  of  joy. 

His  wings  soon  healed,  and  after  the  first  molting 
the  wing  feathers  grew  out  again,  and  he  could  fiy  at 
will ;  but  he  preferred  my  company  to  the  old  forest 
life,  and  if  he  made  long  excursions  during  the  day, 
it  was  only  to  return  at  night  and  nestle  against  my 


HOW  I  CAUGHT  A  TARTAR. 


63 


shoulder.  He  was  afraid  of  the  report  of  my  gun, 
fortunately  for  me,  for  the  fear  was  always  haunting 
me  that  he  would 
surely  recollect 
the  circumstances 
of  our  first  meet- 
ing, if  he  ever  saw 
me  shoot  another 
bird.  In  fact,  af- 
ter he  had  been 
gravely  watching 
me  one  day  en- 
gaged in  skinning 
and  preparing 
some  birds  I  had 
shot,  he  suddenly 
broke  a  long  pe- 
riod of  silence  with 
a  piercing  shriek, 

and  sidled  off  to  a  distance,  where  he  regarded  me 
with  looks  of  horror,  or  so  it  seemed  to  me.  I  felt 
so  guilty  that  I  hardly  dared  look  him  in  the  face ; 
but  that  flash  of  recollection  soon  faded,  apparently, 
or  his  great  heart  resolved  on  abnegation,  for  he  came 
back  eventually  to  his  post  on  my  shoulder. 

We  had  long  talks  together,  and  I  tried  to  set  be- 
fore him  the  many  virtues  of  "  Polly  Crusoe,"  who 
lived  with  her  master  "  no  less  than  six  and  twenty 
Years  "  ;  but  Psittacus,  though  he  would  listen  with 
all  gravity  and  attention,  evidently  didn't  approve  of 
Polly  Crusoe,  for  he  would  jabber  a  long  protest  in 


Parrots  of  Tobago. 


64  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

patois^  to  the  effect  tliat  he  thought  her  a  prig,  and 
one  who  didn't  know  how  to  have  a  good  time. 

At  the  close  of  one  long  spring  day,  after  having 
been  absent  from  early  morning,  Psittacus  came  fly- 
ing back  to  camp  with  another  parrot  in  his  company, 
evidently  a  female,  whom  he  had  chosen  as  his  mate. 
They  circled  around  the  bay  a  few  times,  probably  in 
order  to  allow  me  to  get  acquainted,  a^  then  both 
alighted  on  the  palm  nearest  my  door. 

The  new  bird  remained  in  the  palm  while  Psit- 
tacus made  for  me,  with  his  most  rakish  and  swash- 
buckler air,  and  tried  to  engage  my  attention.  To 
tease  him  a  bit  I  pretended  not  to  be  aware  of  the 
presence  of  his  charmer  in  the  tree,  and  busied  myself 
about  my  birds.  This  was  resented,  as  I  knew  it  would 
be,  and  he  gave  me  a  tweak  of  the  ear  that  drew  blood. 
I  then  looked  around  and  gazed  into  the  tree,  at  which 
he  flew  back  and  took  up  a  position  by  her  side,  where 
he  sat  billing  and  cooing,  after  the  most  approved 
fashion. 

I  placed  a  double  allowance  of  his  favorite  food  at 
his  end  of  the  table  and  did  the  best  I  could  to  signify 
to  them  that  both  were  welcome,  and  after  some  urg- 
ing on  his  part  his  sweetheart  joined  us.  She  was  at 
first  coy  and  rather  suspicious  of  me,  but  behaved  well, 
and  made  herself  very  agreeable.  As  for  Psittacus, 
he  could  not  eat  from  great  delight,  and  alternately 
bobbed  his  head  from  her  to  me,  all  the  time.  I  knew 
from  his  actions  that  this  could  not  be  his  old  mate, 
for  they  did  not  behave  like  a  couple  long  married, 
but  more  like  the  newlv  wed.     I  taxed  Psittacus  with 


HOW  I  CAUGHT  A  TARTAR.  65 

infidelity  and  incon8tani3y  in  seeking  a  maiden,  when 
the  old  one  was  probably  weeping  her  heart  out  at  his 
absence.  He  did  not  deny  the  accusation,  and  rather 
seemed  proud  of  tlie  fact  that  he  still  retained  charms 
enough  of  his  youth  to  fascinate  such  a  "  dear  little 
duck  "  as  the  one  before  us. 

But  it  came  with  bad  grace  from  me  to  chide  my 
protege^  when  it  was  I  who  had  made  of  the  former 
Mrs.  Psittacus  a  widow,  or  at  least  a  "  grass  widow."  So 
I  did  not  pursue  the  subject,  seeing  that  it  was  no  mat- 
ter of  mine  whether  he  were  wed  to  the  damsel  or  not. 
She  was  adopted  into  the  family,  became  greatly  at- 
tached to  me,  and  I  loved  her  for  her  sweet  nature  and 
gentle  manner.  They  fed  at  my  table  when  the  fancy 
took  them,  but  established  their  own  household  in  the 
hollow  of  a  dead  palmiste  on  the  edge  of  the  wood. 
Here  they  dwelt  very  happily,  and  the  young  they 
reared,  from  the  pretty  eggs  Mrs.  Psittacus  the  sec- 
ond deposited  on  the  dry  chips  at  the  bottom  of  the 
hollow,  were  taught  to  look  upon  me  as  a  friend  and 
protector. 

I  have  gone  ahead  of  my  story  somewhat,  in  this 
sketch  of  one  of  my  feathered  friends,  but  I  couldn't 
consistently  abandon  him,  after  giving  him  such  a  bad 
character  at  the  beginning.  As  Crusoe  himself  says  : 
"  How  long  he  might  live  afterwards  I  know  not ; 
though  I  know  they  have  a  Notion  in  the  Brasils  that 
they  live  a  hundred  Years ;  perhaps  poor  Poll  may 
be  alive  there  still,  calling  after '  poor  Kobin  Crusoe' 
to  this  Day ! " 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

MY    HAPPY    FAMILY. 

I  capture  a  coon — Some  agoutis  also — Mocking  birds  and  doves — 
Sea  swallows  and  pelicans — Tropic  birds  and  men-o'-war. 

It  was  more  through  accident  than  by  design  that 
I  became  the  possessor  of  a  "  happy  family  "  ;  but 
gradually  there  gathered  about  me  a  little  group  of 
animals  that  seemed  to  look  up  to  me  as  their  master 
and  their  protector. 

It  is  pleasant,  when  one  has  no  human  companion, 
to  feel  that  he  is  not  altogether  deserted,  and  I  wel- 
comed with  feelings  of  joy  these  members  of  the 
lower  classes  in  feathers  and  fur. 

Although  I  had  made  excursions  into  the  woods, 
still  I  had  not  fully  investigated  the  open  level  and 
the  beautiful  meadow  back  of  my  hut  and  between  it 
and  the  forest.  In  truth,  you  know,  one  is  rarely  ac- 
quainted with  his  nearest  neighbors.  We  are  prone 
to  overlook  most  interesting  things  near  at  hand  in 
our  search  for  other  things,  perhaps  not  so  valuable, 
far  away.  So  I  resolved  to  become  better  acquainted 
with  the  animals  to  be  found  in  the  section  immedi- 
ately contiguous  to  my  bay,  and  with  that  purpose  set 
about  examining  my  surroundings. 

66 


MY   HAPPY  FAMILY. 


67 


The  first  addition  to  my  household  was  what  the 
natives  of  the  West  Indies  call  the  "  wild  dog,"  which 
I  captured  as  I  was  hunting  one  afternoon  along  the 
banks  of  my  river.  Seeing  a  strange  animal  shuffling 
along  ahead  of  me,  looking  for  crabs  and  crayfish,  I 
gave  chase  and  seized  it  by  the  tail,  just  as  it  was 
about  to  plunge  over  the  river  bank.  It  snapped  at 
me,  scratched,  spit,  and  growled  horribly,  but  at  last 


A  pair  of  Agoutis. 

I  succeeded  in  binding  it  with  lianes,  and  getting  it  to 
the  hut,  where  I  found  it  to  be  a  raccoon,  about  two 
thirds  grown. 

At  first  it  gave  me  much  trouble,  but  eventually 
became  attached  to  me,  and  watched  for  my  coming 
as  anxiously  as  did  the  parrot. 


68  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

Finding  that  something  was  devouring  the  tubers 
I  had  planted  in  the  garden,  I  watched  awhile  and 
soon  discovered  the  enemy  in  a  squad  of  agoutis, 
small,  harehke  animals  of  a  golden-brown  color. 
Setting  my  ingenuity  to  match  theirs,  the  result  was 
that  three  sleek,  slender  "  'goutis  "  became  my  prison- 
ers. They  were  mild  of  disposition,  quickly  became 
reconciled  to  captivity,  and  expected  me  to  caress  them 
every  time  I  approached  their  cage.  They  have  some- 
what the  habit  of  rabbits,  are  perpetually  sniffing  the 
air  with  their  sensitive  nostrils,  feed  upon  tender  leaves 
and  vegetables,  are  shy  and  nervous,  but  affectionate 
and  responsive. 

I  do  not  like  to  see  wild  animals  captive,  and  would 
have  let  them  go  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  damage 
they  would  have  done  my  garden ;  but  they  seemed 
to  enjoy  their  imprisonment,  and  I  made  all  amends 
possible  by  giving  them  choice  things  to  eat  and  roomy 
quarters. 

In  the  first  three  months  of  my  stay  I  had  gath- 
ered about  me  these  agoutis,  the  coon,  the  parrots,  a 
tame  trogon,  and  other  friends  among  the  smaller 
tribes.  Mocking  birds  and  doves  lived  constantly 
about  my  door,  and  a  flock  of  terns,  or  sea  swallows, 
made  the  river  basin  their  rendezvous,  fluttering  above 
and  around  me  when  at  work  on  the  beach,  and  walk- 
ing about  unconcernedly  at  all  times. 

I  cultivated  the  best  of  relations  with  my  feathered 
friends,  never  doing  anything  to  disturb  them,  and  con- 
stantly having  them  in  mind,  especially  when  I  had 
something  they  liked  to  eat,  or  for  the  building  of 


MY  HAPPY  FAMILY.  69 

their  nests.  In  this  manner  I  lived  so  happily  that  I 
even  forgot  to  ask  myself  if  I  was  happy,  and  I  have 
learned  this  as  the  result  of  my  lonely  cogitations : 
That  happiness  is  an  article  that  can  not  be  made  to 
order.  It  must  be  the  outgrowth  of  labors  devoted 
to  some  other  end,  and  must  come  to  you,  as  it  will, 
unsought.  If  you  have  a  purpose  that  fills  your  soul, 
that  engages  your  affections — whether  it  be  charity  or 
study,  travel  or  agriculture — whatever  it  be,  if  pur- 
sued with  ardor,  it  is  quite  hkely  to  bring  you  happi- 
ness. 

Crusoe  says  that  he  "  found  a  kind  of  wild  Pidg- 
eons,  who  built  not  as  wood  Pidgeons,  in  a  Tree  ;  but 
rather  as  house  Pidgeons,  in  holes  in  the  Eocks." 
These  may  have  been  the  great  blue  pigeons,  which 
are  now  rare  in  the  island  ;  but  I  am  inclined  to  think 
they  were  not  pigeons  at  all,  but  birds  altogether  dif- 
ferent. For  Crusoe's  knowledge  of  natural  history 
was  extremely  limited,  and  he  hardly  ''  knew  a  hawk 
from  a  hernshaw." 

Breeding  in  holes  in  the  great  cliffs,  were  the  birds 
which,  I  think,  he  mistook  for  pigeons — the  graceful 
Tropic  Birds,  trimmest  and  handsomest  of  sea  fowl. 

The  generic  name  of  the  "  Tropic,"  Phaethon^  is 
that  of  the  audacious  young  man,  who  (as  narrated  in 
the  Greek  mythology)  undertook  tq  guide  the  chariot  of 
the  sun,  and  having  nearly  set  the  world  on  fire,  was 
hurled  by  Jupiter  into  the  sea. 

The  name  is  well  bestowed  upon  this  sun-loving 
bird,  but  it  is  found  nearer  the  sea  than  the  heavens. 
It  is  very  conspicuous  at  sea,  in  the  tropical  waters, 


70 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


and  may  always  be  identified  by  the  long  feathers  in 
its  tail.  These  are  two  in  number  and  are  filiform,  or 
cylindrical,  having  somewhat  the  appearance  of  straws, 


MY  HAPPY  FAMILY.  71 

from  which  it  is  sometimes  called  the  "  straw  bird,"  as 
by  the  sailors  it  is  denominated  the  "  bo'sen,"  from  its 
shrill  cries,  like  a  boatswain's  whistle. 

Another  strange  bird,  never  seen  out  of  tropic 
latitudes,  is  the  great  frigate  bird,  the  Fregata 
aquila^  its  specific  name  probably  derived  from  the 
Latin  for  an  eagle.  Though  the  frigate  bird  delights 
in  the  neighborhood  of  high  cliflis,^  where  its  eggs 
are  deposited  and  the  young  are  reared  in  the  breed- 
ing season,  it  may  nearly  always  be  seen  sailing 
high. 

It  is  more  truly  a  sun  lover,  more  an  explorer  of 
the  upper  atmosphere,  than  the  eagle  himself.  It 
sails  on  scarce-moving  wings  for  hours  at  a  time, 
circling  higher  and  higher,  until  finally  a  mere  speck 
in  the  sky,  then  lost  to  sight  entirely. 

These  man-o'-war  birds,  as  the  sailors  call  them, 
are  seldom  seen  to  alight,  except  in  the  height  of  the 
breeding  season,  during  the  period  of  incubation,  or 
at  night  as  they  return  to  their  roosting  places.  They 
leave  the  cliffs  at  early  dawn  and  fly  far  out  at  sea, 
returning  at  evening  in  great  numbers.  The  black 
hunters  shoot  them  as  they  soar  above  the  headlands 
or  fly  along  the  shore  and  at  the  mouths  of  rivers, 
where  they  sometimes  come  to  drink  and  fish. 

The  tropic  birds  sailed  high  in  air  or  darted 
athwart  the  sky,  rarely  visiting  the  bay,  making  their 
resting  places  in  the  rocks  on  either  side ;  but  the 
water  was  always  enlivened  by  the  presence  of  the 
terns,  or  sea  swallows.  They  flew  screaming  over  the 
surface,  dove  into  the  water  after  small  fry,  and  after 


72  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

fishing  busily  for  hours,  alighted  on  the  reefs  and 
rocks  and  preened  their  feathers. 

There  was  one  species  of  gull — a  laughing  gull 
{Larua  atriGilld) — which  awoke  the  echoes  with  its 
harsh  cries  and  annoyed  the  clumsy  pelicans  by  steal- 
ing their  fish  away,  after  they  had  secured  their 
pouches  full.  The  solemn  pelicans  always  fished  in- 
dustriously, when  not  pursuing  their  lumbering  flight 
along  the  shore.  Scanning  the  water  as  they  flew, 
they  would  suddenly  drop  upon  a  shoal  of  fish,  seize 
several  in  their  bills,  and  then  elevate  their  heads  and 
endeavor  to  throw  the  fish  into  their  pouches. 

This  was  the  moment  the  gulls  had  been  awaiting, 
and  they  would  dart  forward  before  the  pelicans  had 
shaken  the  water  from  their  eyes,  seize  the  fish  from 
their  very  mouths,  and  fiy  off,  laughing  heartily  at  the 
victims  of  their  cunning.  The  stupid  pelicans  would 
pay  no  attention  to  this  robbery,  but  go  on  with  their 
fishing  as  though  nothing  had  happened. 

These  pelicans  were,  doubtless,  the  birds  which 
Crusoe  thought  to  be  "penguins,"  the  great,  gray 
species ;  they  sometimes  floated  in  my  bay  in  front  of 
the  hut  for  hours,  like  so  many  clumsy  Dutch  vessels 
at  anchor.  Morning  and  evening  they  were  always 
actively  fishing,  and  I  watched  them  with  interest, 
wondering  whence  they  drew  those  inexhaustible  sup- 
plies of  fish,  which  had  supported  so  many  thousands 
of  them  for  countless  years. 

The  birds  of  the  sea  were  engaging,  introducing 
agreeable  action  into  my  otherwise  solitary  harbor ;  but 
the  land  birds  were  most  dear  to  me,  on  account  of 


MY   HAPPY   FAMILY.  73 

their  greater  friendliness  and  intelligence.  Perhaps, 
as  some  have  said,  a  fish  diet  promotes  intellectual 
activity  in  human  beings,  but  it  certainly  is  not  so 
with  birds. 

My  mocking  birds,  who  had  established  their 
home  quite  close  to  the  hut,  were  most  precious  to 
me.  It  may  indicate  a  degree  of  false  pride,  perhaps, 
for  me  to  assume  that  the  "  mockers  "  took  delight  in 
my  society ;  but  their  actions  seemed  to  show  it,  and 
that's  all  I  had  to  judge  by. 

All  the  day  long  and  far  into  the  night,  they 
poured  forth  their  delightful  songs.  As  their  nest 
was  built  in  a  low  tree  close  to  my  hut,  1  watched  the 
progress  of  their  domestic  arrangements,  and  1  am 
sure  I  was  as  glad  as  they  when  their  first  brood  was 
successfully  hatched  and  launched  in  air. 

From  this  account  it  will  be  seen  that  I  was  favored 
with  the  best  of  company,  and  I  used  to  think,  with 
Crusoe,  that  "  it  would  have  made  a  Stoick  smile  to 
have  seen  me  and  my  little  Family." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

JUMBO-JOCKO   AND   THE    COCKERRICOS. 

The  biggest  birds  in  Tobago — Those  curious  cockerricos — Lost  in 
the  woods — Saved  from  a  serpent — A  snake  fourteen  feet  long 
— The  hidden  enemy  in  the  bamboo  clump. 

Two  days  of  rain  kept  me  within  doors  and  eon- 
fined  to  the  beach,  where  I  cultivated  the  acquaintance 
of  my  feathered  neighbors.  But  the  morning  of  the 
third  day  brought  me  release,  and  with  gun  in  hand  I 
plunged  into  the  forest.  With  the  coming  of  the 
rainy  season  the  woods  began  to  ring  with  the  cries  of 
those  noisy  birds  called  by  the  natives  "  cockerricos," 
and  it  was  to  procure  a  few  of  them,  if  possible,  that 
I  went  into  the  forest. 

They  are  the  noisiest,  but  at  the  same  time  the 
shyest,  of  all  the  birds  in  these  woods.  Their  loud 
cries  in  the  morning  reminded  me  of  a  passage  in  that 
fascinating  book  written  by  the  famous  botanist  Bar- 
tram,  who  hunted  in  Florida  over  a  hundred  years 
ago,  when  it  was  mainly  a  wilderness,  inhabited  only 
by  Indians.  He  says :  "  I  was  awakened  every  morn- 
ing early  by  the  cheerful  converse  of  the  wild  turkey 
cocks  saluting  each  other  from  the  sun -brightened 
tops  of  the  cypress  and  magnolia.     They  begin  at 

74 


JUMBO-JOCKO   AND  THE  COCKERRICOS.         Y5 

dawn  and  continue  till  sunrise,  and  the  high  forests 
ring  with  the  noise  of  the  rival  sentinels,  the  watch- 
word being  caught  and  repeated  from  one  to  another 
for  hundreds  of  miles  around,  insomuch  that  the 
whole  country  is  for  an  hour  or  more  in  an  universal 
shout." 

I  followed  in  Bartram's  footsteps  in  Florida,  one 
hundred  years  later,  but  the  wild  turkeys  had  near- 
ly disappeared :  though  one  memorable  morning  I 
shot  four  noble  birds,  the  only  ones  I  ever  secured. 
There  are  no  wild  turkeys  in  Tobago,  and  the  cock- 
erricos  are  the  largest  bird  to  be  found  there,  being 
about  two  feet  in  length  and  little  more  in  extent  of 
wing. 

It  is  never  safe  to  venture  far  in  the  rainy  season, 
but  I  was  so  glad  to  get  out  into  the  woods  once 
more  that  I  tramped  for  two  hours  before  halting. 
Then  down  came  the  rain,  and  I  sought  shelter  beneath 
a  big  tree,  in  which  I  had  reason  to  believe  some  cock- 
erricos  were  feeding.  But  as  I  tried  to  look  aloft  the 
great  drops  of  water  splashed  into  my  eyes,  from  or- 
chids and  wild  pines,  and  at  the  same  time  the  birds 
were  hushed  by  the  rainfall,  and  I  had  no  guide  to 
their  position. 

The  woods  were  as  quiet  as  a  graveyard,  the  only 
sounds  to  be  heard  being  the  pattering  of  the  rain- 
drops on  the  leaves;  but  I  felt  sure  that  the  birds 
were  warily  watching  me.  And  at  last,  when,  in 
sheer  desperation,  I  walked  out  into  the  open,  imme- 
diately there  was  a  great  shouting  and  cackling  in  the 
treetops,  and  a  wild  dash  of  frightened  cockerricos  in 


70  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

the  opposite  direction.  Quickly  throwing  up  my  gun 
and  sighting  almost  at  random,  I  pulled  trigger,  and 
one  of  the  birds  fell  crashing  through  the  branches  to 
the  ground.  Picking  it  up,  1  retreated  to  the  shelter 
of  the  tree,  where  the  mass  of  parasitic  plants  on  bole 
and  brandies  shunted  off  the  rain,  and  was  pleased  to 
find  that  I  had  shot  a  full-grown  male. 

This  bird,  which  is  locally  named  from  its  loud 
and  harsh  cry,  belongs  to  the  family  Cracidce^  which 
contains  among  others  that  strange  bird,  the  "  cha- 
cha-la-ka  "  of  Mexico.  There  I  shot  one,  in  the  ruins 
of  ITxmal,  years  before,  and  found  it  as  wary  as  this 
species,  and  possessed  of  as  strange  a  cry.  This 
"  shout "  of  the  cockerrico  can  be  heard  for  miles,  and 
is  produced  by  a  specially -arranged  apparatus,  for  its 
larynx  is  very  long,  being  fastened  to  the  lower  end 
of  the  sternum  and  reflexed  upon  itself,  passing  back 
and  entering  the  thoracic  cavity.  It  is  curved  like  a 
French  horn,  and  it  is  little  wonder  that  its  possessor 
can  make  himself  heard  for  miles  distant  from  his 
place  of  feeding. 

It  is  almost  omnivorous  in  its  appetite,  but  feeds 
chiefly  upon  the  seeds  and  buds  of  trees  and  vines, 
such  as  the  milkweed,  fiddle  wood,  clammy  cherry, 
wild  grapes,  sugar  apple,  sapadillo,  cabbage  palm, 
etc.  The  name  given  to  this  bird  by  the  naturalists 
is  Ortalis  rujieauda^  and  the  family  to  which  it  be- 
longs is  confined  to  the  tropical  forests  of  the  New 
World,  ranging  from  Mexico  to  Paraguay,  in  the 
West  Indies  representatives  being  found  only  in 
Trinidad  and  Tobago. 


JUMBO-JOCKO  AND  THE   COCKERRICOS.  77 

That  was  a  day  of  disaster,  and  I  should  have  ac- 
cepted the  downpour  of  rain,  coming  as  it  did  so  un- 
expectedly and  unwarrantably,  as  an  omen  of  ill  luck, 
and  have  returned  to  my  house  at  once.  But  I  did 
not  wish  to  retire  from  the  field  so  early  in  the  day, 


/ 


(/A*.    ' 


The  Cockerrico. 


and  though  a  long  distance  away,  farther  than  I  had 
wandered  before,  I  took  advantage  of  whatever  lulls 
there  were  in  the  storm  to  push  my  way  yet  farther 
into  the  forest. 

With  head  bent  over  to  avoid  the  rain  as  much  as 


78  CRUSOE'S  ISLAOT). 

possible,  hat  pulled  over  my  eyes,  and  gun  held  under 
my  arm  to  keep  the  breech  dry,  I  was  plodding  up  a 
steep  hillside,  when  I  heard  a  whirr  oi  warning,  and 
looking  up  saw  a  vicious  snake  gazing  directly  into 
my  eyes.  The  hill  was  so  steep  that,  the  snake  being 
about  four  or  five  feet  away  only,  and  above  me,  lie 
was  then  on  a  level  with  my  head. 

Without  removing  my  gun  from  its  position  be- 
neath my  arm,  I  pulled  the  trigger  at  once,  so  excited 
was  I  at  the  unexpected  prospect  of  close  quarters 
with  a  serpent,  with  every  advantage  on  his  side.  In- 
stead of  blowing  his  head  to  pieces,  as  I  expected,  the 
charge  tore  the  earth  directly  over  it,  and  the  ser- 
pent, after  brandishing  the  head  which  I  had  intended 
to  demolish,  threateningly  in  my  face,  and  darting  out 
with  lightning-like  rapidity  a  forked  tongue,  like  a 
flame  of  fire,  slowly  crawled  away. 

I  had  another  charge  in  my  gun,  and  could  have 
reloaded  in  an  instant,  but  was  so  surprised  at  the 
failure  of  my  aim,  and  so  stinick  with  the  magna- 
nimity of  the  serpent,  that  I  stood  irresolute,  while  he 
crept  away.  He  went  off  in  triumph,  too,  turning  now 
and  then  to  dart  at  me  his  glowing  tongue,  and  to  re- 
mind me  that  it  was  only  through  his  forbearance 
that  I  was  left  without  a  modicum  of  poison  in  my 
veins. 

Perhaps  I  am  not  of  the  heroic  clay  of  which  the 
world's  subduers  are  molded  ;  at  all  events,  I  was 
more  glad  at  my  escape  than  desirous  to  fight  that  ser- 
pent, and  leaned  against  a  tree,  faint  with  emotion. 
Quickly  recovering  myself,  I  plodded  on,  but  now 


JUMBO-JOCKO  AND  THE  COCKERRICOS.         79 

with  resolve  to  seek  my  liouse  and  terminate  the  ad- 
ventures of  this  evil  day. 

Taking  the  direction,  as  I  thought,  of  my  hilltop, 
I  walked  for  an  hour  or  more,  the  rain  still  falling, 
when,  chancing  to  glance  downward,  I  saw  the  very 
spot  where  my  charge  of  shot  had  struck  the  earth  as 
I  had  fired  at  the  serpent.  This  was  an  unwelcome 
discovery,  for  it  told  me  that  I  had  lost  my  way. 

In  all  my  wood  life  in  various  lands  I  have  never 
made  the  discovery  that  I  was  walking  in  a  circle, 
without  feeling  a  sinking  at  the  heart.  And  I  knew, 
from  previous  experience,  that  the  best  thing  I  could 
do  was  to  sit  right  down  and  try  to  think  it  out. 

It  must  have  been  the  fault  of  the  snake  that 
my  course,  instead  of  being  straight  and  direct,  as 
usual,  was  now  sinuous,  serpentine!  The  sun  was 
obscured,  the  trees  dripping  water,  the  clouds  black 
and  dense ;  a  gloom  as  of  a  coming  deluge  overhung 
the  forest. 

But  so  long  as  life  and  strength  belong  to  one,  it 
is  weak  and  foolish  to  give  up  and  despair.  It  is 
oftener  better  to  sit  down  and  wait  for  the  clouds  to 
roll  by  than  to  plunge  blindly  ahead,  as  was  proved 
to  me  in  this  instance,  for  in  an  hour  the  sun  shone 
out  and  I  was  enabled  to  go  on  again. 

Ascending  a  hill,  where  the  trees  were  not  quite  so 
thick,  I  was  soon  possessed  of  my  direction,  and  then 
turned  about  toward  my  camp,  which  was  yet  a  long 
way  off.  Breaking  out  of  the  dense  woods  I  came 
to  the  bank  of  a  beautiful  stream,  above  which  sloped 
a  hillside  dotted  with  great  clumps  of  bamboos. 


80  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

The  bamboos,  as  of  course  you  know,  grow  alto- 
gether in  the  tropics,  and  are  very  fine  objects  in  the 
landscape  there.  The  clumps  of  bamboo  that  I  saw 
on  the  hillside  seemed  so  attractive  that  I  thought  I 
would  go  up  to  examine  them. 

If  a  native  of  the  island  had  been  with  me  I 
should  not  have  done  such  a  thing,  for  he  would  have 
warned  me  against  it.  But,  being  alone,  I  rashly 
ventured,  not  knowing  that  anything  more  harmful 
than  birds  or  lizards  ever  inhabited  the  pretty  clusters 
of  long,  lancelike  bamboo  shafts,  with  their  yellow 
stems  and  narrow  green  leaves. 

I  selected  one  of  the  largest  clumps  and,  with  my 
gun  in  the  hollow  of  my  arm,  advanced  upon  it,  as 
though  going  forward  to  storm  a  fort.  For  when  in 
the  forests  of  a  strange  land  I  always  use  caution  in 
whatever  I  do,  and  hold  my  gun  ready  for  instant  use. 

But,  notwithstanding  my  caution,  I  did  not  expect 
the  surprise  in  store  for  me.  I  noticed  that  some  of 
the  bamboo  shafts  were  swaying  wildly,  as  if  a  storm 
was  beating  on  them,  though  the  air  was  calm  and  no 
wind  was  blowing.  This  fact  excited  my  suspicions, 
and  I  scanned  the  clump  narrowly  before  approach- 
ing nearer  than  thirty  feet. 

And  it  was  well  I  did  so,  for,  as  I  halted  a  moment 
to  examine  the  shafts,  out  sprang  an  immense  boa  con- 
strictor, to  the  length  of  more  than  half  his  hideous 
body.  His  tail  and  the  lower  half  of  his  shining  body 
were  enwrapped  about  two  or  three  of  the  bamboo 
stems,  while  the  front  half  and  the  great  head,  with 
its  glittering  eyes  and  open  mouth,  were  launched  into 


Jumbo-Jocko,  the  great  Boa. 
HI 


82  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

the  air.  The  head,  with  cruel  white  fangs  and  red 
mouth,  seemed  aimed  directly  at  me,  and  I  drew 
back  in  alarm,  fearing  the  rest  of  the  serpent  would 
follow. 

Directly  in  front  of  the  horrible  mouth,  which  was 
opened  to  its  widest  capacity,  sat  a  small  and  inoffen- 
sive little  agouti.  It  is  somewhat  like  a  rabbit  in  shape, 
but  brown  like  a  muskrat,  and  about  as  big  as  a  wood- 
chuck.  The  serpent's  head  hung  dangling  within  a 
foot  or  so  of  the  trembling  animal,  which  seemed  un- 
able to  stir  from  the  spot.  It  did  not  notice  my  near 
presence  either,  nor  did  the  serpent  seem  to,  they  were 
so  absorbed,  the  one  in  the  capture  of  its  prey,  and 
the  other  as  though  fascinated  by  the  glittering  eyes, 
which  flashed  like  diamonds. 

But  I  could  not  endure  the  thought  of  the  little 
creature  going  down  into  that  cavernous  maw,  and, 
quickly  sighting  my  gun  at  a  spot  between  the  boa's 
eyes,  I  fired.  There  was  a  great  commotion,  then  the 
bamboos  rattled  as  though  they  had  been  struck  by  a 
hurricane,  and  tliere  was  a  thrashing  in  the  grass  as  if 
some  one  was  beating  it  with  the  branch  of  a  tree. 
Through  the  smoke,  however,  I  saw  enough  to  con- 
vince me  that  my  aim  had  been  true,  for  the  great 
body  hung  rather  limp,  and  the  head  dangled  almost 
straight  down. 

Meanwhile  the  little  agouti  had  recovered  his 
senses,  and  skipped  away,  I  suppose,  for  I  did  not  see 
him  after ;  he  didn't  even  stop  to  thank  me  for  his 
rescue  from  a  living  grave.  I  was  on  the  point  of  going 
into  the  bamboo  thicket  to  draw  out  the  monster. 


JUMBO-JOCKO  AND  THE  COCKERRICOS.         83 

when  I  happened  to  bethink  me  that  these  rascals 
usually  hunt  in  pairs,  and  that  perhaps  the  mate  of 
the  murdered  serpent  was  waiting  near  to  take  re- 
venge. So  I  cut  a  bamboo  pole  and  drew  the  slimy 
carcase  out,  using  a  great  deal  of  caution,  until  at  last 
it  lay  before  me,  glistening  in  the  sun. 

Then  I  measured  it  and  found  it  to  be  fourteen 
feet  in  length,  or  more  than  twice  the  height,  if  held 
upright,  of  an  ordinary  man.  I  have  heard  of  boa 
constrictors  of  a  length  of  thirty  feet,  but  this  one 
of  fourteen  was  the  largest  that  1  ever  killed. 

Although  I  have  hunted  through  many  a  stretch 
of  tropic  forest,  in  Mexico  and  the  West  Indies,  where 
serpents  of  many  kinds  are  numerous,  yet  I  have 
never  entirely  overcome  my  dread  of  the  horrid  rep- 
tiles. There  are  two  kinds  of  serpents  to  be  avoided 
— the  boa,  which  kills  its  victims  by  crushing  them 
between  its  folds,  and  the  poisonous  snake,  which  in- 
flicts death  with  its  fangs.  There  is  little  danger  from 
the  boas,  since  they  are  not  often  met  with  in  the 
West  Indies  more  than  large  enough  to  crush  and 
swallow  a  boy  ;  but  from  the  poisonous  serpents  one 
is  always  in  dread  of  an  attack. 

There  is  one  kind  in  the  islands  of  Martinique  and 
Saint  Lucia  called  the  fer  de  lance^  which  is  not  only 
very  poisonous  but  a  fighter.  Unlike  the  rattlesnake 
and  other  serpents,  it  will  follow  and  attack  human 
beings.  And  as  it  is  very  large,  and  injects  into  the 
veins  of  its  victims  three  times  the  amount  of  venom 
that  the  ordinary  serpent  does,  the  effect  of  its  bite  is 
almost  instant  death.     It  haunts  the  sugar-cane  fields, 


84  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

where  it  kills  the  rats  and  mice,  and  when  the  black 
laborers  come  to  cut  the  cane  it  leaps  upon  and  bites 
them,  every  year  leaving  a  record  of  hundreds  of 
deaths  from  its  fangs. 

I  afterward  learned  that  this  boa  is  called  the 
''  Jumbo-Jocko  "  by  the  negroes,  and  that  he  has  a 
preference  for  the  bamboo  clumps,  where  he  entwines 
himself  around  the  drooping  canes,  sometimes  gorged 
and  asleep,  but  more  often  very  wide  awake  and  on 
the  lookout  for  prey. 

The  island  people  are  afraid  of  him  and  tell 
strange  stories  about  his  snakeship.  They  never 
trust  themselves  near  his  lair  after  sunset,  and  take 
particular  care  that  little  children  shall  not  wander 
into  the  region  where  Jumbo-Jocko  reigns.  He  has 
been  found  over  sixteen  feet  in  length,  often  with 
large  fowls  in  his  maw  ;  and  one  was  known  to  have 
killed  and  swallowed  a  fierce  peccary,  which  is  one 
of  the  wildest,  wariest  animals  in  the  woods. 

It  may  well  be  imagined  that  I  closely  scanned 
every  bamboo  thicket,  that  evening,  as  I  wended  my 
way  homeward,  and  that  I  saw  many  serpent  heads, 
with  fiery,  gleaming  eyes,  peering  at  me  from  the 
shadows  of  the  trail. 


CHAPTEE  X. 

MY    FRIENDS    POMONA   AND    CERES. 

How  I  got  cocoa  and  coffee,  and  made  flour  from  cassava — T  find 
tobacco,  maize,  and  rice ;  also  feast  on  turtle  eggs. 

Above  my  head,  as  I  came  down  the  trail  after 
shooting  the  serpent,  a  nighthawk  darted  ronnd  and 
round,  uttering  strange  cries.  I  tried  in  vain  to  cap- 
ture its  companion,  which  flew  persistently  in  front  of 
me,  suddenly  alighting  in  the  path  at  intervals,  with 
tail  and  wings  loosely  spread,  as  though  badly 
M^ounded. 

Other  night  prowlers  bothered  me  also,  such  as 
bats  and  vampires,  which  flew  across  my  path  and 
unexpectedly  swooped  down  upon  me.  Some  were 
small,  but  others  large  as  doves,  true  blood-sucking 
vampires,  which  flapped  about  like  ghosts,  so  soft  and 
noiseless  was  their  flight. 

I  found  a  curious  group  of  them  one  day  in  the 
hollow  trunk  of  an  immense  tree,  where  they  had  ar- 
ranged themselves  in  the  figure  of  a  triangle,  with  the 
base  upward.  There  were  six  of  them — three  in  the 
upper  row,  two  in  the  next,  and  one  at  the  point. 
In  order  to  see  what  they  would  do  if  their  arrange- 
ment were  disturbed,  I  shot  the  lowermost  one,  and 

85 


86  ^  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

the  rest  all  flew  away.  But  the  next  evening  they 
were  back  again  and  had  rearranged  themselves  in  the 
same  form,  making  an  inverted  triangle,  with  the 
omission  of  the  bat  that  had  foraied  the  point. 

But  it  was  not  of  birds  or  bats  that  I  wished  to 
speak  in  this  chapter ;  rather  of  my  attempts  to  make 
a  garden  and  subdue  the  savagery  of  some  of  the 
native  plants.  The  first  month  after  my  arrival  at 
this  desolate  spot  had  been  spent  chiefly  in  the  woods, 
though  not  wholly  in  hunting,  for  I  had  kept  my  eyes 
open  for  such  things  as  might  be  Msef ul  in  a  garden 
and  plantation. 

I  had  found  see4s  of  the  cacao  in  the  pouch 
of  a  wood  rat,  shot  on  my  first  excursion,  and  that 
led  me  to  look  for  the  tree.  This  1  found  on  the 
skirt  of  the  forest,  and  not  one  tree  only  but  a 
grove  of  the  true  "  cacao,"  the  chocolate-yielding 
bean.  The  name  of  this  tree  is  derived  from  the 
Aztec  cacahuatl^  and  it  is  the  Theobroma  cacao  of 
the  botanists. 

The  trees  were  some  twenty  feet  in  height,  and 
were  bearing  well  at  the  time  I  discovered  them. 
Not  only  on  the  branches  were  the  great  pods  grow- 
ing, but  climbing  up  the  trunks,  looking  like  big- 
bellied  rats,  red  and  purple  in  hue.  The  fruit — the 
seed,  from  which  the  chocolate  is  made — is  contained 
in  a  pod  from  six  to  nine  inches  long  and  three  or 
four  in  diameter,  filled  with  a  sweetish  pulp,  and 
there  are  sometimes  three  dozen  seeds  in  a  pod.  Two 
crops  a  year  are  expected  from  the  cultivated  cacao, 
and  my  trees  then  had  the  remains  of  the  Christmas 


MY  FRIENDS  POMONA  AND  CERES. 


87 


crop  on  their  limbs,  which  I  quickly  gathered  and 
bore  to  my  camp. 

The  trees  were  shaggy  and  tilled  with  dead  wood, 
from  long  neglect,  and  so  I  spent  several  days  in 
pruning  them,  cutting  off  the  small  and  surplus 
branches  in  order  to  throw  the   sap  back  into  the 


Cacao  tree  and  fruit. 


larger  ones  where  the  next  season's  fruit  could  be 
benefited  by  it. 

I  might  not  be  here  to  gather  that  crop,  to  be 
sure,  but  it  was  no  more  than  right  that  I  should  in 
some  way  pay  for  that  I  had  gathered,  and  some  one 
was  sure  to  come  after  me. 


88  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

Sitting  under  the  shade  of  my  bamboos,  I  burst 
open  the  pods  until  I  had  at  least  a  barrel  of  seeds  in 
bulk,  as  yet  uncleaned  of  the  adhering  pulp  and 
fiber.  Having  seen  the  process  in  other  islands,  I 
knew  that  I  must  next  allow  the  seeds  to  ferment,  and 
so  I  filled  my  now  empty  cracker  barrel  with  them 
and  set  them  aside  for  three  days,  then  turned  the 
barrel  over  and  gave  them  three  days  more,  after 
which  they  were  spread  out  to  dry. 

On  the  plantations  the  planters  have  smooth  stone 
floors,  called  harhacues^  upon  which  the  cacao  is 
spread ;  but  I  merely  stretched  some  canvas,  pro- 
tecting them  from  night  dews  and  rains,  and  in  this 
manner  soon  had  my  crop  cleaned  and  dried.  This  I 
stowed  carefully  away,  and  then  felt  that  at  least  one 
want  was  in  a  measure  provided  for. 

This  was  not  my  only  discovery,  however;  it 
seemed  that  Heaven  showered  down  many  blessings 
upon  me  at  that  time,  perhaps  to  try  me  and  prove 
whether  or  no  prosperity  would  ruin  me.  That 
other  discovery  was  coffee.  In  the  same  locality, 
but  at  a  higher  elevation  in  the  hills,  I  came  upon 
a  clump  of  coffee  trees,  some  white  with  fragrant 
blossoms  and  others  red  with  fruit.  Like  the  cacao 
trees,  these  also  were  sadly  in  need  of  pruning,  and 
after  I  had  gathered  their  fruit  I  cut  the  most  of 
them  back  severely,  taking  off  their  tops  at  about 
eight  feet  from  the  ground.  I  cut  down  the  wild 
trees  that  crowded  in  upon  them,  thus  giving  them 
light  and  air,  spread  a  mulch  of  leaves  about  their 
roots,  and  then  left  them  to  flourish  alone. 


MY  FRIENDS  POMONA  AND  CERES.  89 

The  coffee  {Coffea  Arahica)  is  not,  like  the  cacao, 
a  native  of  the  West  Indies,  but  was  brought  here  in 
the  last  century  from  Africa.  Its  cultivation  was 
almost  abandoned  in  the  flourishing  period  of  sugar 
and  slavery  times,  but  is  now  being  taken  up  again 
with  profit.  The  Mocha  variety  requires  an  elevation 
above  the  sea  of  from  one  thousand  to  two  thousand 
feet  for  the  best  results,  but  there  is  a  variety  called 
the  Liberian  which  will  grow  at  a  lower  altitude,  and 
in  many  respects  is  superior. 

My  coffee  was  from  some  old  plantation  Mocha, 
run  wild  years  ago.  This  kind  grows  best  in  rich, 
deep  soil,  and  likes  to  nestle  in  deep  crevices  among 
the  rocks  of  a  hillside,  where  the  warmth  and  col- 
lected moisture  promote  its  growth.  The  berries  are 
red  as  a  cherry  when  ripe  and  must  be  gathered  as 
soon  as  matured. 

Inside  the  pulp  is  the  coffee  bean,  which  must 
be  removed  by  a  process  called  pulping.  Machines 
are  provided  for  that  purpose  on  the  estates,  but 
I  removed  mine  by  rolling  the  berries  between 
two  boards,  as  there  was  but  a  small  quantity,  and 
after  that  I  soaked  them  in  water  for  twenty-four 
hours  to  ferment  and  remove  the  mucilaginous  sub- 
stance adhering,  and  then  spread  them  out  to 
dry. 

Even  then  there  remained  the  parchment  or  hull, 
which  I  brayed  off  in  a  rude  mortar  hollowed  out  of 
wood,  and  winnowed  in  the  air.  As  I  had  no  coffee 
grinder  or  mill,  I  had  recourse  to  a  most  primitive 
process  by  putting  the  coffee,  after  it  was  roasted. 


90  CRtJSOE^S  ISLAITD. 

into  a  canvas  shot  bag  and  pounding  it  with  the  head 
of  an  axe. 

By  the  time  all  these  processes  were  performed  I 
had  a  most  vivid  impression  of  the  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  an  isolated  existence,  and  realized  the  ad- 
vantages of  cooperation  as  experienced  in  civilized 
life  in  communities.  But  I  did  not  repine ;  far  from 
it.  I  enjoyed  as  never  before  my  cups  of  coffee  and 
of  chocolate,  having  extracted  them  from  the  very 
vitals  of  earth.  It  was  indeed  "  theobroma  " — nectar 
such  as  the  gods  delight  in — and  I  thrived  on  it. 

This  much  with  reference  to  my  beverages — cocoa- 
nut  water  direct  from  the  tree  every  morning,  coffee 
and  chocolate  from  my  private  groves,  and  a  stream 
of  "Adam's  ale"  at  my  very  door. 

Tobacco  I  also  found  growing  wild,  as  Crusoe  did. 
I  say  growing  wild,  but  it  had  probably  been  culti- 
vated here  at  some  former  period.  This  plant  was 
discovered  by  Columbus  in  the  West  Indies,  and  the 
first  sent  from  here  to  England  direct  came  from  the 
near  island  of  Trinidad,  probably  being  sent  home  or 
carried  there  by  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  in  1585. 

Hence  the  tobacco  is  at  home  in  Tobago,  and 
Crusoe  doubtless  did  find  it  growing  here  if  he  looked 
about  him  with  attention.  He  says  he  did,  for  "  I 
searched  for  the  Cassava  Root,  which  the  Indians  in 
all  that  Climate  make  their  Bread  of,  but  I  could  find 
none.  I  saw  large  Plants  of  Aloes,  but  did  not  then 
understand  them;  and  I  saw  several  Sugar  Canes, 
but  wild  and  for  want  of  cultivation  imperfect." 

Perhaps  one  of  my  most  important  finds  was  the 


MY  FRIENDS  POMONA  AND  CERES.  91 

cassava  {mcmihot).  One  day,  while  hunting  along  a 
lowland  grove,  I  came  to  an  opening  looking  out  to 
the  sea,  where  the  land  seemed  to  have  been  culti- 
vated at  some  time  in  the  past.  This  sea  valley  was 
fertile  and  sheltered  from  the  gales  of  the  hurricane 
season,  and  I  found  here  many  remains  of  early  culti- 
vation. One  tract  contained  shrubby  plants  with 
knotty  stems  six  or  eight  feet  high,  which  I  at  once 
saw  was  cassava.  Pulling  up  one  of  the  plants  I 
found  a  large  tuber  attached  to  the  woody  stem,  and 
then  knew  that  I  was  looking  upon  a  plant  known  to 
the  aborigines  of  these  islands  before  the  advent  of 
the  white  man. 

The  Indians  prepare  the  cassava  by  grating  the 
tuber  and  making  from  it  a  fine  meal  which  is  baked 
into  thin  cakes.  As  the  bitter  cassava  is  deadly  poison 
in  a  raw  state,  and  the  poison  is  dissipated  by  heat, 
the  meal  is  heated  over  a  fire  before  it  is  stored  away 
for  use. 

My  stock  of  flour  was  nearly  half  gone  at  the  end 
of  the  second  month,  and  1  knew  that  something 
must  be  done  soon  or  I  should  be  without  bread. 
The  cassava  would  yield  a  supply  of  farinaceous  food, 
at  a  pinch,  and  I  held  it  in  reserve  for  the  future. 

Behind  my  cocoa  grove  was  a  small  tract  of  rich 
soil  which  1,  with  infinite  labor,  dug  up  with  a  spade 
and  here  planted  some  shoots  of  the  manihot.  This 
was  done  by  merely  cutting  off  sections  of  the  stems 
and  sticking  them  in  the  ground — quite  in  the  old 
and  easy  aboriginal  way,  with  the  least  trouble  pos- 
sible. 


MY  FRIENDS  POMONA  AND  CERES.  93 

If  it  appear  that  I  seem  lazy,  I  shall  offer  no  de- 
fense, as  I  have  become  so  and  was  not  bom  so. 
The  easiest  way  is  always  the  best,  but  some  people 
are  not  satisfied  with  that,  and  spend  their  time  hunt- 
ing out  one  more  diflScult. 

In  that  same  abandoned  field  I  found  what  gave 
me  a  thrill  of  joy  at  beholding :  some  stalks  of  maize, 
or  Indian  corn.  Like  cassava,  indigenous  to  America, 
yet  the  maize  (Zea  mays)  has  had  a  more  general  dis- 
semination throughout  the  world  than  the  other,  and 
now  supplies  the  staff  of  fife  to  millions.  Yet  at  one 
time  it  was  known  only  to  the  American  Indian,  and 
was  first  discovered  by  Europeans  in  these  very  islands 
of  the  West  Indies. 

I  don't  think  Columbus  himself  could  have  experi- 
enced greater  satisfaction  when  Indian  Guacanagari 
brought  him  those  golden  grains,  on  the  coast  of  Haiti 
in  1492,  than  I  did  at  the  sight  of  the  majestic  maize 
stalks  growing  in  this  deserted  corner  of  Tobago. 
There  were  some  large  ears  on  the  stalks,  but  nearly 
divested  of  grain  by  the  birds ;  and,  as  Crusoe  says, 
in  narrating  his  own  experience,  "I  carefully  saved 
the  Ears  of  Corn,  you  may  be  sure,  in  their  Season." 
And  then  there  were  the  pineapples.  Crusoe  does 
not  mention  them,  but  they  were  there,  probably; 
great,  juicy,  luscious  fruits,  with  tufts  of  leaves  like 
a  cacique's  crown.    They,  too,  are  American  products. 

The  season  for  planting  is  almost  any  time,  but 
best  in  the  first  three  months  of  the  year.  Begin- 
ning in  January,  utilizing  the  spare  time  from  my 
hunts,  I  worked  in  the  soil  night  and  morning ;  and 


94  "  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

it  was  surprising  to  see  how  much  I  had  turned  over 
with  my  spade  when  February  came  in.  It  was  hard 
labor  in  one  sense,  but  sweetened  by  the  conscious- 
ness that  every  stroke  and  every  spadeful  tended 
toward  that  improvement  of  my  condition  which 
should  be  my  highest  aim.  It  could  not  be  called 
menial,  for  it  was  deprived  of  every  groveling  ele- 
ment by  its  own  dignity,  since  I  was  doing  it  for  my- 
self and  not  for  hire.  Never,  since  my  birth  into  a 
world  of  work,  have  I  consciously  enslaved  myself ; 
I  have  always  been  a  free  man.  And  I  was  free  now, 
free  to  live  a  life  of  idleness  if  I  chose — and  would 
pay  the  penalty  !  The  work  was  its  own  reward, 
aside  from  the  ultimate  fruition  of  what  I  planted 
there,  in  that  little  garden  under  the  palms. 

The  cassava  was  set  out,  the  grains  of  corn  were 
planted,  and  on  the  outskirts  of  the  savanna  I  sowed 
some  wild  rice  and  buried  the  tubers  of  a  certain 
plant,  called  the  tania.  This  latter  is  a  pretty  plant 
when  growing,  having  large,  arrow-shaped  leaves, 
and  is  allied  to  the  famous  taro  of  the  Hawaiian 
Islands. 

From  the  com  I  expected  a  harvest  in  less  than 
three  months,  and  from  the  others  in  not  less  than 
six  to  eight ;  and  even  then  I  must  use  sparingly,  in 
order  to  save  enough  for  another  planting.  I  varied 
my  agricultural  operations  with  excursions  into  the 
forest  and  along  the  shore ;  and  now,  having  a  good 
set  of  fishing  poles  made  from  the  bamboos,  I  caught 
many  a  fish  from  the  rocks  at  the  mouth  of  the 
harbor. 


MY  FRIENDS  POMONA  AND  CERES. 


95 


In  one  of  my  tramps  along  the  beach  beyond  the 
northern  promontory,  one  evening,  I  came  upon  a 
great  turtle  dragging  itself  up  the  sands.  Carefully 
watching,  I  saw  it  dig  a  hole  in  the  sand  and  there 
deposit  a  number  of  eggs — about  forty,  as  I  soon  dis- 
covered. It  was  near  dark  when  the  turtle  had  com- 
pleted this  labor,  and  taking  advantage  of  the  ob- 


Pineapple  plants. 


scurity  I  stole  upon  and  soon  had  turned  it  over  on 
the  sand,  where  I  left  it  till  the  morning.  When  I 
returned  for  my  prize,  however,  it  had  recovered  its 
legs  and  departed. 

This  was  in  contradiction  to  what  I  had  always 
believed  tnie  of  the  ways  of  the  sea  turtle,  for  I  had 
thought  that  once  on  their  backs,  there  they  would 


96  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

have  to  remain  till  turned  over  again.  However,  the 
eggs  compensated  me  for  my  trouble,  and  I  reflected 
that  I  could  easily  find  another  turtle  when  I  wanted 
a  steak.  "  Going  down  to  the  seaside,"  says  Crusoe, 
''  I  found  a  large  Tortoise,  or  Turtle ;  this  was  the 
first  1  had  seen,  which  it  seems  was  my  misfortune, 
not  any  defect  of  the  Place,  or  scarcity ;  for  had  I 
happened  to  be  on  the  other  Side  of  the  Island  I 
might  have  had  Hundreds  of  them  every  Day,  as  I 
found  afterwards ;  but  perhaps  had  paid  dear  enough 
for  them."     And  this  1  found  to  be  literally  true. 


CHAPTER  XL 

MY   HOME    ON   THE    HILLTOP. 

"  My  next  Work  was  to  view  the  Country  and  seek  a  proper 
Place  for  my  Habitation  and  where  to  stow  my  Goods,  to  secure 
them  from  whatever  might  happen ;  there  was  a  Hill  not  above  a 
Mile  from  me  which  rose  up  very  steep  and  high,  and  which 
seem'd  to  overtop  some  other  Hills  which  lay  as  in  a  Ridge  from 
it  northward." — Crusoe. 

I  HAD  been  three  months  on  this  island  before  1 
owned  a  home.  The  camp  on  the  beach,  though  it 
was  a  dehghtfiil  makeshift,  was  never  regarded  by 
me  in  any  sense  as  a  home,  for  it  was  built  of  too 
fragile  materials,  serving  merely  as  a  retreat  for  the 
night  and  from  the  heat  of  the  sun.  In  making  the 
discovery  of  the  palm-crowned  hill  in  the  forest,  I  had 
found  the  site  of  what  I  really  wanted  to  establish :  a 
home  that  would  serve  me  as  a  permanent  place  of 
residence.  Soon  after  I  opened  a  path  through  the 
woods,  which  shortened  the  distance  between  that 
place  and  the  camp  to  less  than  a  mile,  and  at  once 
began  cutting  the  timber  for  a  house. 

It  was  a  fatiguing  labor,  of  course,  and  I  will  not 
detail  the  days  of  toil  and  the  many  schemes  I  in- 
vented to  overcome  the  difficulties  in  the  way.  Suf- 
fice it  that  by  the  end  of  February  I  had  all  the  ma- 

97 


98  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

terial  at  the  hill,  and  rapidly  built  my  house.  The 
lumber  was  not  any  too  well  seasoned,  having  but  a 
month  or  so  for  drying,  but  it  answered  well  enough. 
I  used,  for  the  walls  of  the  house  and  the  outside 
covering,  strips  riven  from  palm  logs,  which  made  it 
look  like  what  it  really  was,  a  log  hut.  It  was  of  one 
story  only,  but  being  perched  on  the  summit  of  the 
hill  it  was  dry  and  well  drained,  and  even  had  a  cellar 
beneath  it.  There  was  a  door  in  the  center  and  two 
windows,  the  latter  protected  by  shutters,  as  I  had  no 
glass.  These  openings  looked  out  toward  the  north, 
and,  that  I  might  the  better  enjoy  the  magnificent  view 
outspread  in  this  direction,  I  built  a  broad  veranda  run- 
ning the  entire  length  of  the  structure. 

Two  things  I  decided  to  have  in  this  new  house 
of  mine  if  I  had  nothing  else :  a  veranda  and  a  fire- 
place. By  people  in  general  these  are  regarded  as 
superfluities,  especially  the  fireplace,  which  can  easily 
be  dispensed  with  in  the  tropics  ;  but  I  knew  better. 
I  was  not  building  merely  for  a  shelter,  but  for  the 
gratification  of  my  home-loving  nature  as  well,  and  a 
home  without  a  hearthstone  is  just  no  home  at  all ! 

The  temperate  zone,  which  has  produced  the 
brightest  exemplars  of  intellectual  humanity,  is  in- 
debted to  the  hearthstone  for  its  highest  culture. 
In  the  tropics  man  is  lost  in  the  immensity  of  Nature, 
his  powers  are  dissipated,  he  loses  the  faculty  of  con- 
centration. Only  within  the  shelter  of  walls,  shut  in 
by  the  "tumultuous  privacy  of  storm,"  and  by  the 
side  of  the  bright  hearth  fire,  have  the  greatest  minds 
produced  the  greatest  works.     That  may  be  an  opin- 


MY  HOME   ON  THE   HILLTOP.  99 

ion  merely,  but,  at  all  events,  there  is  a  cheer  in  the 
open  fire  that  nothing  else  can  supply,  and  I  knew 
that  there  would  be  long  days  in  the  rainy  season 
when  it  would  be  grateful. 

The  construction  of  the  fireplace  and  chimney  was 
more  difficult  than  the  building  of  the  house,  but 
with  sticks  and  clay  and  a  few  flat  stones  I  made 
something  that  answered  my  purpose.  The  whole 
house  was  only  sixteen  feet  wide  by  twenty-four 
long,  and  this  was  divided  into  tw^o  rooms,  that'  con- 
taining the  fireplace  being  devoted  to  use  as  a  living 
room  and  study. 

The  new  place  I  called  the  "  Hilltop  "  and  the 
old  one  the  "  Seaside,"  and,  having  removed  to  the 
former  the  bulk  of  my  belongings,  I  set  about  im- 
proving the  situation  in  earnest.  On  the  slopes  of 
the  hill  I  planted  a  great  many  arrowroot  slips ;  for 
this  plant,  which  is  a  native  of  tropical  America,  grows 
readily  in  the  rich  soil  of  a  hillside,  such  as  I  had 
here.  Not  only  did  I  have  to  consider  the  soil  and 
situation  in  undertaking  this  cultivation,  but  the  con- 
tiguity of  a  stream  of  running  water,  which  would  be 
essential  in  the  gathering  of  the  crop  and  the  prepa- 
ration of  the  starch.  That  was  a  contingency  remote, 
a  year  or  so  hence ;  but,  although  I  knew  the  odds 
might  be  against  my  reaping  the  benefit  of  this  labor, 
yet  I  was  willing  to  take  the  risk. 

The  hillslopes  were  also  best  for  the  cassava,  many 
cuttings  of  which  I  transplanted  here,  and  eventually 
had  a  broad  strip  of  cultivated  land  stretching  down 
from  my  door  to  the  pond.     Around  the  house  I  set 


100 


MY  HOME  ON  THE  HILLTOP.  101 

out  such  vines  and  floTrering, plants  as  I  thought  might 
grow  well  here,  and  fmcb;  as -'the  woods  yielded  me  ; 
but  they  were  not  rnany;  andl  wo'jld  have  given  half 
my  cassava  crop  fof  '^good^  old-fa&idned  flower  gar- 
den, filled  with  phlox,  hollyhocks,  balm,  and  fragrant 
herbs,  such  as  I  wot  of  somewhere. 

In  my  search  for  flowering  plants  I  found,  in  the 
deserted  plantation,  a  vine  with  flowers  like  those  of 
the  morning-glory,  but  which  proved  of  vastly  more 
importance,  being  nothing  less  than  the  sweet  pdtato. 
This,  like  the  arrowroot,  is  native  to  tropical  America, 
and  was  carried  to  Europe  even  before  the  ordinary 
potato.  The  Indians  knew  it  as  the  hatata^  and  its 
scientific  name  {Tpomcea  hatata)  indicates  its  origin 
and  the  family  to  which  the  plant  belongs.  I  was 
much  rejoiced  at  obtaining  cuttings  of  this  valuable 
vine,  and  set  out  as  many  as  I  could,  near  the 
house. 

After  I  had  become  domiciled,  and  the  aspect  of 
newness  had  given  place  to  an  air  of  permanency,  I 
had  many  visitors  at  the  house,  chiefly  with  feathers 
on  them.  My  dear  old  mocking  bird  seemed  to  miss 
me  very  much  at  the  beach,  and  I  did  the  best  I 
could  to  induce  him  to  move  to  my  new  abode ;  but 
it  was  a  long  time  before  he  could  be  made  to  under- 
stand where  I  had  gone.  Birds  are  more  restricted, 
as  to  their  flights  and  habitat,  than  is  generally  be- 
lieved. Such  as  the  mocking  bird  prefer  short  flights 
and  a  narrow  hunting  range,  to  wandering  over  large 
spaces.  Th^  mile  that  separated  my  two  houses  was 
sufficient  to  give  me  an  entirely  new  class  of  birds, 


102  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

and  the  residents^  of  one  region  •rarely  trespassed  upon 
the  preserves  t^^ai^otheV  •  y'}  "^  - 

One  moruingj  .however,  I  heai*d  a  flood  of  song 
being  pou^dl  iPbl-fti!  "from  'thfe.Voo-ftree  of  my  new 
house,  and  before  I  had  gone  into  the  outer  air  I 
knew  that  Mimus  had  come  to  visit  me.  He  had 
brought  his  mate  along,  too,  and  when  I  appeared  he 
welcomed  me  gleefully.  I  had  some  food  for  him, 
of  course,  and  when  he  had  eaten  of  it  he  entered  the 
doorway  and  began  an  examination  of  my  domicile, 
nodding  his  dainty  head  in  evident  approval.  Then 
he  retired  to  the  roof  again  and  sang  a  benediction, 
after  which  he  and  Mrs.  Mimus  flew  away  to  the 
seaside,  where  their  domestic  engagements  were  too 
pressing  for  them  to  be  absent  long  at  a  time.  After 
the  young  had  flown  they  made  me  longer  and  more 
frequent  visits,  and  finally  settled  near  me,  though 
giving  up  with  evident  reluctance  their  residence  at 
the  beach. 

I  had  not  been  in  my  new  place  a  week  when  a 
flycatcher,  one  of  the  birds  allied  to  what  we  call  in 
the  North  the  "  pewee,"  took  up  her  abode  under  the 
thatch  of  my  roof.  Under  the  eaves  she  and  her 
mate  built  a  pretty  nest,  knowing  well  enough  that 
they  were  safe  from  harm.  They  were  quiet  and 
unobtrusive,  but  I  got  a  deal  of  comfort  from  their 
company ;  for,  while  the  female  sat  on  the  eggs  she 
laid,  the  male  came  out  in  search  of  mosquitoes  and 
small  insects,  flying  about  me,  and  frequently  sitting 
on  the  rafters  of  the  room  for  hours.         * 

On  the  border  of  the  woods  I  found  the  most 


MY  HOME  ON  THE  HILLTOP.  103 

curious  specimen  of  the  flycatcher  family  extant.  He 
was  a  quaint  little  chap,  only  four  inches  in  length, 
but  with  a  bill  over  half  an  inch  wide  and  nearly 
three  quarters  of  an  inch  long.  He  is  known  as  the 
"  spoonbill,"  or  the  duckbill  flycatcher,  from  having 
this  odd,  spatulate  protuberance.  The  general  desig- 
nation in  Latin  of  the  flycatchers,  the  generic  name, 
is  Musieapa  (musca^  a  fly,  cajpio^  to  take),  but  this 
little  pug-nose  is  called  the  Todus  platyrynchus^iYom 
the  Greek,  meaning  that  he  has  a  broad  snout.    - 

"During  this  Time,"  says  Crusoe,  "I  made  my 
Rounds  in  the  Woods  for  Game  every  Day,  when 
the  Eain  permitted  me,  and  made  frequent  Discov- 
eries in  these  Walks  of  Something  or  other  to  my 
advantage." 

One  never  walks  abroad  in  the  woods  without 
making  discoveries  of  importance,  if  he  keep  his  eyes 
about  him.  In  one  of  my  rambles  I  made  an  im- 
portant addition  to  my  stock  of  useful  articles  by  the 
find  of  the  soapberry  tree.  And  I  was  nearly  out  of 
soap,  too,  at  this  time,  so  that  the  "  find  "  was  oppor- 
tune. 

The  "soapberry,"  or  "soap  seed,"  grows  on  a 
tree  some  forty  feet  high,  which  is  in  bearing  sev- 
eral months  in  the  year.  The  seed  is  black,  inclosed 
within  a  yellow  skin,  and  is  about  as  large  as  a  com- 
mon marble.  The  Creoles  use  the  skin,  which  is 
viscid,  as  a  detergent,  in  lieu  of  soap,  and  it  is  often 
used  to  wash  clothes  with.  The  seeds,  after  they  are 
cleaned,  are  worn  as  beads  by  the  children.  Another 
thing  used  for  removing  dirt  is  the  leaf  of  the  "  soap 


104  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

vine,"  which  is  quite  common,  and  is  applied  with 
corncobs,  cocoanut  husks,  etc. 

I  could  now  save  the  little  soap  I  had  left  for 
toilet  purposes,  and  clean  my  clothes  with  the  soap- 
berry, which  I  found  growing  in  abundance  near  the 
pond,  after  I  had  made  its  acquaintance. 

In  a  tall  tree  near  the  house  a  ruby  humming  bird 
made  her  nest,  and  I  had  an  opportunity  for  watching 
the  whole  process  of  nest-building.  She  was  flying 
continually  from  tree  to  tree,  gathering  cobwebs,  after 
the  core  of  the  nest  was  made,  and  plastering  them 
on  with  her  bill,  sitting  inside  and  dropping  the  bill 
over  the  side,  rubbing  it  around  swiftly  and  delicately, 
firmly  attaching  the  cobwebs  and  lichens. 

One  cloudy  morning,  when  the  leaves  of  the  trees 
were  a  quiver  noiselessly,  and  the  birds  hushed  and 
subdued  as  if  in  expectation  of  some  disaster — ^for 
the  signs  all  indicated  a  big  storm  coming — I  was  at- 
tracted by  the  actions  of  a  brown  humming  bird.  I 
was  standing  under  a  large  sapote  tree,  by  the  side  of 
the  stream  where  I  usually  crossed  it,  and  in  front  of 
me  dashed  a  big  brown  "  hummer."  After  hovering 
a  few  seconds  above  a  large  flat  stone,  it  suddenly 
dropped  and  touched  its  beak  to  it,  then,  rising  in  the 
air  a  foot  or  so,  it  darted  out  its  tongue  for  more 
than  an  inch  of  its  length,  apparently  drawing  in 
what  had  gathered  on  its  beak.  This  performance 
was  repeated  several  times,  until,  being  curious  to 
find  the  cause  for  these  actions,  I  examined  the  stone, 
and  found  on  it  some  pulverized  lime,  which  I  had 
dropped  when  coming  up  from  the  beach.     When 


MY  HOME   ON   THE   HILLTOP.  lo5 

I  made  my  chimney  I  burned  lime,  as  well  as  I 
could,  from  the  coral  and  shells  on  the  beach,  and 
this  I  transported  with  difficulty  to  the  hill,  dropping 
much  of  it  by  the  way.  And  it  was  to  get  a  taste  of 
this  lime,  doubtless,  that  the  humming  bird  whetted 
its  slender  beak  on  the  flat  stone. 

I  found  the  nest  of  this  "  hummer "  attached  to 
the  under  side  of  a  small  palm  leaf,  daintily  con- 
structed of  cobwebs  and  lichens,  and  affixed  like  the 
nest  of  a  swallow.  The  leaf  bent  above  and  con- 
cealed it,  so  I  should  never  have  found  it  had  not 
the  bird  himself  betrayed  its  whereabouts.  This 
species  and  the  emerald  variety  are  very  brave,  even 
to  rashness,  darting  at  any  intruder,  man  or  beast, 
with  a  "  whoof ,  whoof  "  of  the  wings  that  is  startling, 
when  heard  in  the  stillness  of  the  deep  forest. 

Thus  my  time  was  passed  in  noting  the  move- 
ments of  my  neighbors,  in  cultivating  my  grounds, 
and  adding  to  my  store  of  information  regarding  the 
fauna  and  the  economic  flora  of  my  island.  Almost 
before  I  was  aware  of  it  three  months  had  flown,  and 
I  was  as  much  at  home  as  though  I  had  lived  here  all 
my  life. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

HOME   OF   THE    HUMMING   BIRDS. 

A  flood  of  bird  music — The  razor  grinder's  song— Birds  with  ven- 
triloquial  calls— A  plunge  into  a  pool — The  screen  of  flow- 
ers— Evolutions  in  midair — Whitethroats  and  saber  wings. 

A  PERFECT  flood  of  song  greeted  me  one  raoming 
about  mid-April,  seemingly  poured  forth  from  a 
thousand  throats:  of  finches,  sparrows,  blackbirds, 
bluebirds,  thrushes,  and  many  more.  This  hosanna 
was  a  welcome  to  the  rain  which,  as  in  the  North, 
distinguishes  the  month  of  April  from  the  other 
months.  The  first  scattered  drops  had  fallen,  but  the 
season  of  heavy  rains  did  not  begin  before  the  month 
of  June. 

I  arose  before  the  deep  shadows  of  night  had 
been  fairly  dissipated  ;  stars  gleamed  out  of  the  sky 
and  were  reflected  in  the  still  sea ;  the  hush  of  early 
dawn  was  upon  everything ;  but  before  I  had  finished 
my  bath  in  the  pond  there  burst  forth  a  chorus  of 
sounds.  The  wren,  the  little  "  God  bird,"  who,  like 
the  pewee,  had  taken  up  his  abode  beneath  my  roof, 
was  the  first  to  break  the  stillness,  then  the  mocking 
bird,  followed  by  the  flycatchers.  The  "  mocker " 
took  upon  himself  the  office  of  master  of  ceremonies ; 

106 


HOME   OF  THE  HUMMING  BIRDS.  107 

from  a  tall  palm  stub  near  the  house  he  poured  out 
his  heart.  My  hill  was  the  grand  stand,  my  little 
family  the  chief  performers — at  least  the  first — and 
auditors  in  the  surrounding  forest  took  up  the 
chorus. 

From  the  valleys  beneath  arose  an  outcry  as 
though  a  whole  barnyard  of  fowls  had  broken  out  at 
once  ;  these  were  the  "  cockerricos  "  who  rent  the  air 
with  harsh  screams  of  "  cokriko,  cokriko,  cokriko  !  "  A 
shy  and  wary  bird  is  the  cokriko,  and  you  may  rest 
assured  that,  however  noisy  he  may  be,  his  every 
sense  is  on  the  alert.  Many  a  time  and  oft,  I  stalked 
him  vainly  before  he  became  my  capture. 

Up  from  the  trees  around  came  a  loud,  shrill 
whistle,  prolonged  and  deafening,  like  a  steam  whistle 
in  sound  and  intensity.  This  was  from  the  cicada, 
and  its  continuous  shrilling  presages  the  near  ap- 
proach of  the  rainy  season.  When  first  1  heard  it  I 
truly  thought  a  locomotive  was  tearing  through  the 
forest,  and  leaped  from  my  tracks  in  great  alarm. 
These  cicadse  are  quite  large,  and  I  have  seen  them 
many  times  clinging  to  the  bark  of  a  cashew  tree.  I 
have  only  heard  the  sound  in  the  spring  and  early 
summer,  from  April  to  August,  and  it  is  probably  a 
love  call,  as  I  have  seen  a  cicada  alone  on  a  bare  tree 
trunk  calling  nervously,  and  looking  later,  when  the 
cry  had  ceased,  found  a  second  one  in  close  company. 
The  loud  shrilling  seems  to  issue  from  the  thoracic 
region,  and  may  be  made  by  the  insect  rubbing  the 
wings  together,  as  at  that  time  the  wings  seem  to  be 
but  a  filmy  mist.     Not  alone  in  the  morning,  but  at 


108  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

noon  when  the  day  is  hottest,  as  well  as  at  evening 
time,  do  they  raise  the  most  deafening  din. 

But,  not  to  dally  too  long,  this  bright  morning, 
with  the  "  razor  grinder,"  as  the  black  people  call 
him,  we  must  swallow  our  coffee  and  away.  As  I  go 
down  the  hill  I  see  some  swift-flying  birds  approach- 
ing, many  pairs  of  them,  but  all  in  couples.  They 
wing  their  way  with  rapid  beatings  of  the  air,  for 
their  bodies  are  robust,  their  wings  are  short.  They 
are  the  large  green  parrots,  and  are  going  off  for  a 
hasty  meal  in  the  "  provision  grounds,"  before  the 
owners  are  out  and  before  they  begin  their  regular 
all-day  foraging  on  their  own  "  feeding  trees  "  in  the 
forest.  In  an  hour  or  so  they  will  come  back  again, 
having  learned  by  bitter  experience  that  it  isn't  safe 
•to  stray  far  from  the  woods  long  after  the  sun  has 
risen. 

They  were  all  screaming  to  each  other,  "  Quite 
right,  quite  right !  "  not  knowing  at  all  the  significance 
of  the  words  they  uttered ;  but  one  of  them  startled 
me  by  adding,  "  Quite  right,  ha-ha,  quite  right !  "  It 
was  Polly  Psittacus,  and  lucky  for  him  he  cried  out 
as  he  did,  for  I  had  my  gun  up,  ready  to  drop  him  as 
he  flew  by,  thinking,  of  course,  he  was  one  of  the 
wild  ones.  And  a  wild  one  he  was,  having  returned 
to  his  old  ways  of  feeding  and  living ;  but  he  never 
forgot  me,  and  a  few  days  later  he  and  Mrs.  Psittacus 
paid  me  a  visit. 

Having  got  rid  of  their  first  crop  of  young,  or 
rather  having  given  them  a  start  in  life  by  pushing 
them  out  of  their  nest,  they  now  had  leisure  for  visit- 


HOME   OF   THE  HUMMING  BIRDS.  109 

ing.  They  liked  my  house  so  well  that  they  stayed 
several  days  on  the  lirst  visit,  during  which  they  in- 
spected the  group  of  palms  around  the  house,  and 
finding  there  one  with  a  hole  in  it  to  their  liking,  took 
up  their  abode  without  further  ado.  I  am  going  to 
relate  their  doings  in  due  course,  and  shall  be  obliged 
to  tell  what  a  bad  reputation  Psittacus  had  before  he 
came  under  the  civilizing  influence  of  my  household. 
It  all  came  out,  as  they  say  bad  doings  always  do,  and 
in  a  most  curious  manner. 

But  again  I  must,  beg  pardon  for  delaying  my  trip 
to  the  woods.  By  the  time  I  enter  the  shade  the  sun 
is  shooting  his  first  beams  over  the  mountain  ridge. 
He  is  a  good  marksman  and  accurate,  but  the  first 
rays  are  spent  in  ethereal  space,  shot  over  the  heads 
of  mortals  on  this  orb  terrestrial  and  above  the  tree- 
tops  even  of  the  somber  forest.  As  if  suspecting 
that  his  ammunition  may  be  wasted,  old  Sol  pops  up 
out  of  the  water  to  see  for  himself,  with  rosy,  beam- 
ing face,  red  hot  from  his  exertions  since  I  saw  him 
last.  Heralds  of  his  coming  were  not  wanting  in 
roseate  flushes  of  the  cloudlets  along  the  horizon, 
deepening  rapidly  into  crimson  blushes  and  beauty 
spots.  I  had  watched  Sol  as  he  dropped  beneath 
the  western  sea  the  night  before,  and  could  have 
sworn  that  he  winked  at  me  wickedly,  shooting  out  a 
parting  gleam,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  I'll  see  you  to- 
morrow, my  dear."  ]^ow  he  was  up  again,  after  his 
journey  half  around  the  world,  and  the  manner  in 
which  he  shot  his  darts  at  me,  whenever  an  opening 
occurred  in  the  bushes,  fully  justified  me  in  the  sur- 


110  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

mise  of  the  previous  evening.  Soon  I  was  bathed  in 
perspiration,  and  had  not  a  dry  thread  on  me,  not- 
withstanding the  shade  at  intervals. 

A  mile  of  this  brought  me  to  a  deep  ravine,  and 
then  I  scrambled  along  the  dry  bed  of  what  in  the 
summer  was  a  roaring  river,  till  I  came  out  at  the 
bottom  of  a  valley  between  two  steep  hills,  where  a 
tiny  rivulet  trickled,  and  where  the  tall  trees  met  in 
a  canopy  overhead  and  effectually  screened  me  from 
the  sun. 

The  murmur  of  the  stream  was  soothing,  the  sigh- 
ing of  the  breeze  in  the  treetops  was  quieting,  and 
the  coolness  of  this  secluded  vale  refreshing.  Great 
milkwood  trees  towered  aloft,  but  the  palmistes  held 
their  heads  even  higher,  while  ferns  and  luxuriant, 
lush-leaved  wild  pines  cast  a  shade  dense  enough  for 
protection.  A  flock  of  parrots  was  screaming  in  the 
milkwood  tree,  but  I  would  not  shoot  at  them,  for 
fear  I  might  wound  or  kill  my  own  Psittacus.  A 
saber-wing  humming  bird  flew  by,  poised  himself  an 
instant  on  buzzing  wings,  and  then  departed  with  a 
whiz  and  a  whirr.  But  he  had  delayed  his  departure 
too  long,  for  at  the  report  of  my  gun  he  fell  into  the 
ferns. 

By  the  rivulet-side  I  took  a  humming  bird's  nest 
from  the  pendent  leaf  of  a  palm  fringed  with  sharp 
spines.  This  was  the  nest  of  the  sicklebill  hummer, 
sometimes  called  the  "  Doctor,"  which  often  aflixes 
its  nest  to  the  under  side  of  a  "  balisier  "  leaf,  where 
it  has  complete  slielter  from  the  sun  and  rain. 

Meanwhile  I  was  whistling  for  trogons  at  inter- 


HOME  OF   THE   HUMMING  BIRDS. 


Ill 


vals,  and  was  at  last  rewarded  by  a  distant  call. 
Throwing  into  my  voice  all  the  seductiveness  possible, 
I  succeeded  in  attracting  a  trogon  to  the  valley  ;  but 
it  was  some  time 
before  I  discov- 
ered it,  as  the 
notes  of  the  tro- 
gon are  in  a  meas- 
ure ventriloquial, 
in  common  with 
the  voices  of  many 
other  birds.  It 
has  the  quality  of 
seeming  afar  off  when  it  is 
quite  near,  and  while  I  was 
looking  for  the  bird  it  was 
sitting  quietly  over  my  head, 
replying  to  my  every  whistle. 
I  did  not  want  to  shoot 
the  bird,  only  to  enliven  the 
somberness  of  the  vale  by  a 
little  color,  and  so  I  whistled 
again  until  there  were  finally 
many  trogons  about  me,  which, 
seeing  that  I  would  do  them 
no  harm,  lingered  among  the 
tree  ferns,  and  kept»  me  com- 
pany all  the  day.  While  watching  the  birds  that  came 
in  response  to  my  calls,  and  walking  slowly  along  the 
edge  of  the  stream,  I  got  a  bad  fall,  my  attention  be- 
ing fixed  upon  the  treetops  instead  of  the  earth. 


Sicklebill  Humming  Birds 
and  nest. 


112  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

The  rocks  were  slippery  aod  over  I  went,  sliding 
down  a  long  cascade,  and  plunging  through  a  screen 
of  vines  into  a  small  but  deep  pool,  where  I  was  com- 
pletely submerged.  The  fall  was  a  severe  one,  and 
when  I  had  got  out  on  the  rocks  again  I  found 
my  wrist  badly  sprained  and  rapidly  turning  black, 
from  a  blow  received  while  trying  to  hold  my  gun 
out  of  the  water  in  the  descent.  Gun  and  cartridges 
were  soon  spread  out  to  dry ;  with  great  diificulty  I 
divested  myself  of  my  clothing,  and  then  sat  down  to 
rest,  in  the  condition  that  is  supposed  to  have  been 
that  of  Adam  in  the  garden  of  Eden. 

The  heat  had  increased,  notwithstanding  the 
shade,  and  so,  as  the  pool  had  been  shown  large 
enough  to  wet  me  thoroughly,  I  got  into  it  again  and 
lay  along  the  shelving  rock  under  the  water.  As  I 
lay  there,  in  great  pain  from  my  swollen  wrist,  but 
not  insensible  to  the  soothing  silence  of  the  place,  I 
was  startled  by  an  abrupt  whirr  of  wings  quite  near 
my  head.  I  was  lying  in  a  little  glen,  beneath  the 
tiny  stream,  which  trickled  over  the  rock  above  and 
fell  some  fifteen  feet  into  the  pool.  By  standing  up 
I  took  a  shower  bath,  making  a  spray  by  extending 
my  hand  and  allowing  the  water  to  fall  through  the 
opened  fingers. 

Above  the  pool  grew  a  large  tree,  wreathed  to  its 
topmost  branches  by  a  stout  vine  which  was  itself 
clothed  in  brilliant  yellow  flowers.  Vine  and  flow- 
ers covered  the  trunk,  running  along  the  branches 
and  hanging  in  festoons  from  the  drooping  head  of 
the   tree,  descending  to  the   rocks,  and   forming   a 


HOME   OF  THE   HUMMING   BHIDS.  113 

screen  that  hid  the  spot  from  outside  observation. 
From  that  yellow  drapery  about  my  couch  emanated 
a  subtle  fragrance,  perfuming  the  air  for  hundreds 
of  yards  around.  Bees  buzzed  about  it,  multitudes 
of  insects  hovered  in  front  of  it ;  but,  more  than  this, 
scores  of  humming  birds  played  around  and  behind 
it,  darting  like  lightning  through  the  yellow  flowers 
and  the  misty  veil  of  the  waterfall. 

In  the  woods  everywhere  at  this  season  one's 
senses  are  delighted  with  beautiful  sights,  and  ^bove 
all  wdth  delicious  odors.  Looking  in  any  direction,  I 
could  see  the  brilliant  yellow  masses  of  the  cog  wood 
and  green  heart,  trees  large  as  maples,  mere  masses  of 
golden  bloom.  Many  another  tree  was  in  blossom, 
the  buds  were  springing,  and  every  sense  assured  me 
that  it  was  as  surely  springtime  here  as  it  was  then 
in  New  England. 

I  heard  the  whirr  of  wings,  and  saw,  dancing 
above  the  still  waters,  with  seemingly  aimless  intent, 
a  whitethroat  humming  bird.  It  was  first  above  my 
pool,  then  under  the  spray  of  the  fall,  occasionally 
dipping  into  the  water,  but  never  once  alighting.  It 
may  have  been  seeking  food,  wdiile  thus  indulging  in 
fantastic  flight ;  but  this  strange  dance  it  always  per- 
forms in  somber  places,  chiefly  in  the  morning  and 
evening  twilight. 

Never  were  evolutions  more  eccentric  or  delight- 
ful :  down  it  dropped  from  the  gloom  of  vine-hung 
tree,  halted  an  instant  on  suspended  wing,  dashed 
sidewise,  fell,  rose  again,  dipped  its  beak,  while  still 
on  fluttering  wings,  into  the  water,   then  suddenly 


114  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

darted  off,  so  rapidly  that  the  eye  could  hardly  follow 
it,  to  resume  its  capers  in  another  place. 

The  first  one  I  ever  shot  was  when,  as  now,  I  was 
bathing  in  a  shady  pool.  A  whitethroat  came  beat- 
ing about  the  stream,  its  broad  tail  of  pure  white  and 
the  white  crescent  at  its  throat  contrasting  beautifully 
with  the  blue  and  glossy  green  of  its  body.  At  the 
report  of  my  gun  (which  was  loaded  with  a  pinch  of 
powder  and  a  little  dust-shot)  a  troubling  of  the  sur- 
face of  the  stream,  such  as  the  falling  of  a  leaf  would 
have  caused,  told  me  that  my  aim  had  been  true,  and 
I  hastily  ran  to  secure  it,  all  naked  as  I  was. 

So  many  "  hummers "  fluttering  about  could  not 
long  remain  without  a  quarrel,  for  these  little  sprites 
are  pugnacious  rascals,  brave  to  rashness.  Suddenly 
two  of  them  penetrated  the  screen  of  flowers  and  en- 
gaged before  my  face  in  mimic  battle,  chirping  and 
beating  their  wings  in  fury.  In  a  twinkling  one 
dropped  to  the  surface  of  the  pool,  fluttering  down 
like  a  feathery  snowflake ;  but  no  sooner  touched  the 
water  than  it  darted  upward  and  flew  into  the  forest, 
its  antagonist  remaining  dancing  in  mid-air,  lik«  the 
fairy  that  he  was. 

This  humming  bird  is  just  a  little  over  five  inches 
in  length,  and  another  species,  found  more  in  open 
woods  and  fields,  called  the  ruby,  is  half  an  inch 
shorter.  This  latter  species  has  a  brilliant  ruby  crest, 
and  glows  all  over  like  a  coal  of  fire.  A  naturalist, 
who  made  these  birds  a  subject  of  study,  says  that  he 
once  found  in  the  stomach  of  one  of  them  more 
than  a  hundred  ants,  showing  conclusively  that  their 


HOME  OF  THE  HUMMING   BIRDS.  115 

food  is  insectivorous,  though  they  doubtless  do  in- 
dulge in  honey  and  sweets  from  the  flowers.  This 
observer  also  surrounded  a  humming  bird's  nest  with 
gauze,  just  before  the  young  were  ready  to  fly,  and 
for  three  weeks  the  mother  bird  came  and  fed  them, 
betraying  the  utmost  solicitude  if  any  one  approached, 
and  driving  oil  other  birds,  with  angry  chirps  and 
violent  actions. 

/  Eight  Species  of  humming  bird  have  been  found 
4n  xobago  :  the  "  Doctor  "  or  the  sicklebill,  which  has 
a  curved  beak,  and  builds  a  pensile  nest,  beneath  a 
bending  leaf,  I  have  already  described ;  the  saber- 
wing,  a  very  peculiar  species ;  the  whitethroat,  one  of 
the  little  dancers  of  the  forest ;  the  ruby-crested,  the 
most  brilliant  of  them  all,  and  which  has  been  nearly 
exterminated  by  the  bird-hunters  ;  the  emerald,  which 
is  very  small ;  and  three  others  not  so  numerous.  As 
a  bird  peculiar  to  the  New  World,  and  never  found 
in  any  other  part  of  the  globe,  the  humming  bird  pos- 
sesses a  special  value  to  Americans,  taking  the  place 
in  this  hemisphere  that  the  sunbirds  fill  in  the  other.* 

*  I  would  call  attention  to  the  fact,  in  this  connection,  that 
while  six  species  of  hummingbird  have  been  found  in  Tobago, 
thp^liave  been  discovered  in  Juan  Fernandez,  one  of  which  has 
been  named  the  Trochilus  Fernandensis, 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE    MANAKIN's    AERIAL    DANCE. 

How  to  catch  birds  in  the  deep  woods— Calls  used  by  the  Caribs — • 
A  peculiar  courtship — The  rivals  dancing  in  air. 

When  in  the  deep  forests  of  the  tropics,  where 
the  trees  are  tall,  the  foliage  dense,  the  undergrowth 
a  perfect  snarl  of  spiny,  thorny  vines  and  bush  ropes, 
it  is  next  to  impossible  to  secure  a  bird  even  after 
you  have  shot  it  and  "marked"  it  down  to  a  cer- 
tainty. 

In  the  first  place,  you  must  find  your  prospective 
prey,  and  this  is  no  small  matter ;  you  may  hear  the 
chattering  of  parrots,  the  songs  of  thrushes,  the 
"squeaking"  of  humming  birds;  but  while  all  may 
be  quite  near  you,  yet  they  are  hidden  beyond  masses 
of  leaves  and  vines.  The  best  way  to  obtain  them  is 
to  seek  a  good  spot,  make  yourself  as  comfortable  as 
possible,  then  await  their  arrival.  Even  then  you 
must  not  depend  wholly  upon  your  unaided  powers 
of  sight,  but  must  use  all  your  arts  of  allurement. 

Birds  are  curious,  though  shy  and  cautious. 
While  they  would  fly  from  you  in  affright,  should 
they  see  you  coming  through  the  woods,  they  may  be 
caught  by  stratagem  quite  easily. 

116 


THE   MANAKIN'S  AERIAL   DANCE.  117 

Assuming  that  it  is  necessary  to  secure  a  bird,  the 
best  way,  as  I  said,  is  to  make  it  come  to  you,  and  not 
go  blundering  about  the  woods,  barking  your  shins 
against  rocks  and  trees.  You  can  call  them  to  you, 
as  the  Carib  Indians  taught  me,  by  various  imitations 
of  their  cries.  Their  curiosity  will  prompt  them  to 
investigate  any  strange  noise  in  their  quiet  retreats, 
and  they  will  come  flying  toward  you  precipitately, 
if  you  keep  yourself  well  concealed. 

Imitate  the  cry  of  a  bird  in  distress,  and  a  dozen 
of  his  or  her  relatives  will  come  flying  to  the  rescue. 
Squeak  as  though  a  young  bird  were  trying  its  first 
flights,  and  a  lot  of  troubled  mother  birds  will  drive 
straight  for  the  object  of  their  solicitude.  More  at- 
tractive than  any  other  call  is  that  imitating  a  pair  of 
birds  engaged  in  a  flght.  ]S"early  all  birds  love  a 
scrimmage,  and  take  as  much  interest  in  it  as  any 
small  boy  does  in  a  dog  fight.  They  hurry  forward 
with  responsive  cries,  and  nearly  tumble  over  them- 
selves in  their  efforts  to  be  first  at  the  scene  of  the 
affray. 

By  means  of  these  cries  I  surrounded  myself  with 
flitting  forms,  which  kept  me  company  throughout 
the  day. 

Like  flashing  gems,  like  meteors  astray,  the  merry 
humming  birds  darted  athwart  the  glen,  illumining 
its  darkest  nooks.  I  could  have  lain  there  in  my 
bathing  pool  for  hours  and  hours,  listening  to  the 
falling  water  and  watching  the  eccentric  flights  of  the 
birds.  But  soon  my  clothes  were  dry,  there  was  no 
longer  excuse  for  lingering,  and  I  went  a  little  way 


lis  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

into  the  woods.  As  I  was  sitting  on  a  mossy  rock 
eating  ray  luncheon  I  heard  a  shrill  whistle,  a  whistle 
with  a  twang  in  it  like  the  whiz  of  a  bowstring  or 
the  nasal  note  of  an  nntraveled  American.  It  was  so 
near,  apparently,  and  came  from  the  stillness  of  the 
woods  so  abruptly,  that  I  started.  It  was  repeated — 
"  Whew^  whit  !  " — and  searching  carefully,  I  discov- 
ered its  author  perched  upon  a  horizontal  limb  quietly 
regarding  me,  holding  his  head  on  this  side  and  then 
on  that,  evidently  awaiting  a  response. 

Nor  was  he  disappointed  ;  another  whistle,  pre- 
cisely like  the  first,  announced  the  approach  of  an- 
other bird.  This  one  alighted  on  the  same  branch, 
and  then  ensued  the  joUiest  dance  that  it  has  been  my 
good  fortune  ever  to  witness.  Seated  on  the  same 
branch,  apparently  as  loving  as  a  pair  of  love  birds, 
they  began  to  whistle  to  each  other,  bobbing  their 
heads  in  a  way  that  excited  my  laughter,  and  as  if 
to  say,  "  After  you,  if  you  please,"  sidling  away  and 
approaching,  whistling  merrily  all  the  while. 

Their  whistle  now  was  not  so  shrill,  but  mellow 
and  plaintive;  and  I  soon  saw  the  cause  of  it  all, 
when  another  bird  flew  out  of  the  shrubbery  adjacent 
and  alighted  near.  This  one  was  clad  in  sober  colors, 
olive  green  predominating,  and  was  doubtless  a 
female,  the  others  being  males  and  her  admirers. 
As  I  afterward  learned,  this  bird  was  known  as  the 
"  manakin  "  {Pipra  jpareold).  The  male  has  a  scarlet 
silken  crest  of  triangular  shape,  which,  as  contrasted 
with  his  blue  back,  gives  him  a  strikingly  handsome 
and  smart  appearance.     The  female  is  very  plain,  but 


THE  MANAKIN'S  ATRIAL   DANCE. 


119 


evidently  understands  the  art  of  fascinating,  for, 
while  her  mate  is  much  the  handsomer  of  the  two,  he 
proves  himself  a  most  assiduous  lover,  and  is  by  no 

means  vain  of   his 
"  looks." 

On  the  arrival 
of  the  female,  then, 
the  trio — the  two 
males  and  the  fe- 
male —  flew  down 
to  a  fallen  branch, 


Dancing  manakins. 

where  they  alighted,  and  the  gallants  began  a  lively 
duet.  I  have  seen  many  strange  performances  in 
bird  life,  but  never  before  one  like  this.  I  was  a 
spectator  and  full  in  sight,  but  they  were  so  intent 
upon  their  love-making  that  they  regarded  me  not  at 
all.  Sitting  a  little  apart  from  her  lovers,  the  little 
coquette  demurely  held  her  head  on  one  side,  preened 
her  feathers  occasionally,  and  pretended  to  take  not 
the  slightest  interest  in  the  play  that  was  performed 
for  her  exclusive  benefit.     But  the  performers  did 


120  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

not  seem  to  take  that  as  a  slight,  for  they  threw  their 
whole  hearts  into  the  acting. 

First  one  of  them  jumped  up  into  the  air  some 
two  feet,  followed  by  the  other  as  he  came  down, 
and  thus  they  continued  for  several  minutes,  passing 
and  repassing  each  other  in  the  air,  and  uttering  the 
queerest  of  notes,  like  "  Cra%o^  craw^  craw-craw^'' 
which  sounded  like  the  cawing  of  distant  crows. 
They  did  not  fly  into  the  air,  but  seemed  to  leap, 
each  with  head  lowered,  shoulders  elevated,  and  tail 
depressed,  reminding  me  of  those  pictures  on  rice 
paper  of  Chinese  officials  obsequiously  approaching  a 
mandarin. 

This  funny  dance  they  kept  up  until  both  were 
tired,  and  stopped  to  gain  breath,  when  they  hopped 
up  and  went  at  it  again. 

Just  what  their  reward  was  to  be  from  that  de- 
mure little  wretch  who  sat  observant  alongside,  the 
apparent  object  of  their  attentions,  I  am  unable  to 
say,  for  certainly  no  caresses  were  then  obtained  from 
the  female,  and  they  did  not  offer  any  advances. 

A  third  male  came  upon  the  scene  while  the  dance 
was  at  its  height,  though  he  never  offered  to  interfere, 
but  sat  gravely  by,  and  may  have  come  in  the  charac- 
ter of  judge,  or  umpire.  It  seemed  so  absurd  to  me 
that  birds  so  much  the  superior  of  this  female  in  point 
of  attractiveness  should  exert  themselves  so  much  to 
win  her  favor !  If  the  same  rule  prevailed  in  human 
life  there  is  no  maid,  no  matter  how  plain,  who  would 
not  some  time  find  her  intended  spouse. 

That  a  fellow  all  decked  out  in  blue  and  scarlet 


THE  MANAKIN'S  ATRIAL  DANCE.  121 

should  put  himself  into  awkward  and  uncouth  atti- 
tudes all  to  win  the  regard  of  an  obscure  maiden  in 
bottle  green,  seemed  to  me  preposterous,  to  say  the 
least.  But  these  little  fellows  don't  know  their  ad- 
vantage and  superior  attractions.  So  anxious  are  they 
to  get  together  and  try  a  tilt  that,  should  you  hear  the 
whistle  of  one  in  the  woods,  you  have  but  to  answer 
it  in  kind,  and  the  manakin  will  fly  precipitately  to- 
ward you.  Many  have  thus  been  lured  to  death,  by 
those  who  cared  more  for  their  feathers  than  their 
antics.  This  little  bird  is  about  five  inches  long ;  it 
completes  its  courting  and  builds  its  nest  in  May,  and 
may  be  found  about  the  milkwood  and  the  parrot- 
apple  trees. 

The  manakins  and  other  birds  beguiled  the  time 
so  charmingly  that  the  day  had  gone  before  I  knew 
it,  and  I  found  my  way  home  by  moonlight.  The 
moon  was  climbing  a  vault  clear  and  unclouded,  but 
the  ravines  and  masses  of  trees  were  in  deepest 
shadow. 


10 


CHAPTEK  XIY. 

I    LIGHT   THE    FRAGRANT   FIRE. 

The  charms  of  solitude — Millions  of  frogs — Scissorstails  and  swal- 
lowtails—God-birds  and  goatsuckers — Monarch  of  all  I  sur- 
veyed— The  wrens  and  the  whip  snake — Crusoe  and  I  agree. 

I  WAS  awakened,  one  morning,  bj  the  falling  of 
rain,  which  came  down  in  a  sudden  torrent,  thus  an- 
nouncing the  real  opening  of  the  rainy  season,  about 
the  last  of  May.  The  temperature  quickly  changed 
witli  the  weather,  the  hot  dry  days  giving  place  to  cool 
damp  ones.  Rain  fell  all  the  forenoon,  the  country 
was  veiled  in  mist ;  the  stream  which  yesterday  1 
could  have  leaped  across  was  now  swollen  to  a  raging 
torrent,  and  beyond  the  beach  carried  its  turbulent 
flood  far  out  into  the  bay,  in  huge  corrugated  billows, 
which  tinged  the  sea  the  color  of  yellow  earth  for  miles 
away. 

There  was  no  going  out  of  doors  that  morning,  so 
I  Hghted  a  fire  of  fragrant  gum-wood  (more  for  its 
company  and  incense  than  for  warmth)  and  prepared 
for  a  day  with  my  books.  At  noon,  however,  the  rain 
held  up  as  suddenly  as  it  had  arrived,  and  the  forests 
were  so  sweet  and  fresh,  the  singing  of  birds  so  in- 
viting, that  I  went  forth  in  quest  of  what  I  might  find 
that  was  new. 


I  LIGHT  THE  FRAGRANT  FIRE.  123 

The  floods  of  rain  seemed  to  have  started  floods  of 
music  out  of  the  throats  of  the  birds,  for  all  were  sing- 
ing, all  were  giving  thanks  for  the  coolness  and  the 
verdure.  The  effect  upon  the  vegetation  was  magical, 
and  in  a  few  days  a  most  wonderful  garb  of  green 
crept  over  the  face  of  ^ffature.  Fruits  of  all  kinds  as 
well  as  leaves  took  a  start,  such  as  mangos,  sapadillos, 
cashew  apples,  and  Jamaica  plums,  which  made  im- 
mense development. 

One  immediate  effect  of  the  rain  was  a  crop  of 
mosquitoes  which  I  had  not  noticed  before,  and  the 
frogs,  hitherto  silent,  were  now  croaking,  chattering, 
whistling,  in  every  gully  and  ravine. 

These  frogs  make  a  great  variety  of  sounds ;  for 
several  nights  I  was  kept  awake  by  the  cries  of  some 
animal  I  could  not  discover,  and,  though  I  searched 
frantically  for  it,  not  until  my  patience  was  nearly  ex- 
hausted did  I  discover  that  it  was  a  frog,  rods  away, 
its  shrill,  penetrative,  yet  plaintive  notes  seeming  close 
to  my  door. 

The  rains  awakened  all  the  frogs  in  creation,  it 
seemed  to  me,  and  they  all  united  in  giving  intermit- 
tent concerts,  chiefly  nocturnal ;  and,  judging  from 
the  din  and  confusion,  they  were  indulging  in  orgies 
deep  and  tremendous,  letting  off  the  accumulated  en- 
ergies of  the  long  months  of  dry  weather  in  a  grand 
explosive  outburst.  There  were  frogs  that  whistled, 
plaintively  and  shrilly ;  frogs  that  yelled  in  demoniac 
frenzy,  "  Wow^  wow^  wow^  wow  !  "  singly  and  in  chorus ; 
and  frogs  that  ejaculated  with  precision,  every  two 
minutes,  "  Whang^  wang^  wang  !  "  like  the  twanging  of 


124 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


a  bowstring.     Such  a  hideous  chorus,  and  all  evoked 
by  the  falling  of  a  few  showers  ! 

The  advent  of  the  rainy  season  was  the  signal  for 
the  appearance  of  a  host  of  new  and  strange  birds,  in 
pursuit  of  the  insects  evoked  by  the  showers.  The 
most  noticeable  of  these  was  seen  by  me  the  first  morn- 
ing after  the  rain  had  fallen — a  peculiar  bird  over 
fourteen  inches  in  length,  but  nine  inches  of  this 
length  was  tail.  And  this  tail  was  deeply  cleft,  spread 
apart  like  a  pair  of  scissors.  Indeed,  it  was  a  true 
"  scissorstail,"  the  swallowtail  flycatcher. 


Scissorstails 


H|  /^     f/^M  The  scissorstail  arrives  in 

^t_  ___^_/j^H  Tobago  in  June,  but  is  most 
^K^^K^^Kj^^M  abundant  in  the  ^^  plover  sea- 
PP^^^^^^B/^^H  son."  It  is  said  to  come  from 
|Bf^H  South  America,  and  a  pecul- 
iarity of  its  migration  is  that 
the  males  always  precede  the 
females  by  several  days.  A 
noteworthy  example  of  this 
habit  may  be  recalled  in  the  advent  of  the  bobolink, 
in  New  England,  the  males  of  that  species  always 
arriving  at  their  Northern  breeding  grounds  ahead  of 


I  LIGHT  THE  FRAGRANT  FIRE.  125 

the  females.  This  may  be  to  spy  out  the  land  and 
prepare  a  reception  for  the  females  ;  but  at  all  events 
there  they  are,  flooding  the  meadows  with  melody, 
sometimes  a  week  in  advance  of  their  partners.  How 
they  come,  or  whence  they  come,  nobody  knows ;  but 
you  wake  up  some  fine  morning  in  May,  and  your 
senses  are  tingled  by  the  tinkling  of  the  first  bobolink. 

The  scissorstails  do  not  sing,  but  confine  their 
energies  to  ridding  the  lowlands  of  flies  and  mosqui- 
toes. During  the  heat  of  the  day  they  were  unseen, 
but  always  appeared  just  half  an  hour  before  sunset, 
alighting  upon  a  wild  tamarind  tree  and  thence  mak- 
ing aerial  forays  upon  the  insects.  This  was  only 
at  evening  time  ;  at  early  morning  I  might  find  them 
in  open  glades  of  the  woods  for  an  hour  or  so  after 
daylight,  then  they  would  disappear.  Their  feeding 
time  seemed  to  be  toward  sunset,  as  in  the  morning 
they  were  hovering  over  the  shrubs  and  grasses  of 
the  glades,  seemingly  with  aimless  fiight. 

Of  the  many  birds  that  clear  the  air  of  noxious  in- 
sects, these  flycatchers  and  the  night  hawks  are  the 
most  efficacious,  in  a  quiet,  unobtrusive  way.  In  por- 
tions of  the  United  States  the  night  hawk  is  known  as 
the  "  bull  bat,"  from  its  rapid  circhng  in  the  air  and 
from  the  roaring  noise  it  makes  with  its  wings,  in  swift 
descent.  This,  the  most  inoffensive  of  birds,  is  well 
known  throughout  the  West  Indies  as  the  "  jumby 
bird,"  or  the  ''jomby" — bird  of  ill  omen — because 
of  its  soft  flight,  ghostlike  wanderings,  and  nocturnal 
habits.  It  is  rarely  abroad  by  day,  though  I  once  shot 
one  at  dusk.     It  is  the  most  maligned  of  birds,  and 


126  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

even  its  Latin  name,  Caprimulgus^  bears  out  the  popu- 
lar tradition — in  Europe,  at  least — that  it  surrepti- 
tiously deprives  the  goats  of  their  milk,  that  being  the 
literal  rendering  of  "  goatsucker,"  a  name  by  which 
it  is  sometimes  called  in  America.  It  probably  ob- 
tained that  appellation  from  its  habit  of  flying  about 
and  close  to  cattle  and  goats  in  search  of  the  insects 
near  and  preying  upon  them.  A  more  appUcable 
name  is  that  bestowed  by  the  older  ornithologists,  of 
"  night  swallow,"  as,  indeed,  it  is  the  swallow  of  the 
night,  pursuing  and  destroying  the  nocturnal  insects, 
and  in  its  flight  somewhat  resembling  the  swallows, 
sailing  gracefully  through  the  air;  though  not  so 
swiftly  as  they. 

All  the  flycatchers  are  of  shy  and  retiring  habits, 
never  courting  observation,  and  a  whole  family  might 
live  within  a  stone's  throw  of  your  dwelling  and  you 
never  be  the  wiser  for  their  presence.  Of  several 
new  species  I  discovered  in  the  West  Indies,  two  or 
three  were  of  this  family ;  one  of  them  was  called  by 
the  natives  the  "sunset  bird,"  because  of  its  cry, 
which,  they  said,  was  the  French  patois  for  sunset, 
soleil  Gaucher!*' 

Their  nests  are  sometimes  as  curious  as  the  birds 
themselves,  one  of  the  Tyrannidce  discovered  contain- 
ing skeins  of  cotton  of  various  colors,  locks  of  hair, 

*  This  bird  was  named,  in  honor  of  its  discoverer,  the  31yiar- 
chus  Oheri,  by  the  ornithologists  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 
All  the  birds  described  in  this  book,  as  well  as  many  others  sent 
to  the  Smithsonian  Institution  by  the  author,  may  be  found  in  its 
collections  and  catalogued  in  its  Reports. 


I    LIGHT  THE   FRAGRANT   FIRE.  127 

and  the  cast-oflE  skin  of  the  whipsnake,  woven  into 
the  border  as  an  ornament. 

An  accession  to  my  family  at  the  coming  of  the 
rains  was  the  wren,  the  smallest  of  my  tenants,  yet 
the  noisiest  and  most  sprightly.  This  httle  songster 
is  known  as  the  "  God  bird  "  by  the  negroes,  but  is 
what  we  call  the  house  wren.  It  builds  in  the  houses 
of  man  as  well  as  in  the  deep  woods,  and  is  equally  at 
home  in  town  and  forest.  Though  the  most  diminu- 
tive of  birds,  yet  it  is  brave  and  even  pugnacious. 

An  old  observer  of  the  actions  of  birds  once  told 
me  a  story  in  illustration  of  its  courage  and  tenacity 
of  purpose.  One  day,  he  said,  his  attention  was  called 
to  the  more  than  usual  vociferations  of  a  pair  of  these 
birds  that  had  their  nest  in  his  house,  on  a  sugar 
plantation.  On  looking  out  he  saw  a  whipsnake, 
about  four  feet  long,  seeking  to  hide  himself  under  a 
tuft  of  grass  from  the  assaults  of  the  wrens.  Going 
to  their  assistance,  he  drew  the  snake  out,  when  they 
were  upon  it  at  once,  striking  it  right  and  left,  upon 
the  head  and  tail  alternately,  as  opportunity  offered, 
obliging  it  to  take  refuge  wherever  it  could. 

They  seemed  to  pay  no  attention  to  the  presence 
of  the  planter,  but  continued  to  strike  at  it  when 
within  a  few  feet  of  his  hand  ;  and  after  they  had 
dispatched  it  they  retired  to  a  near  fence  and  poured 
out  their  triumph  in  an  ecstasy  of  song. 

The  wren  is  noted  for  its  cleanly  habits,  removing 
from  its  nest  all  refuse  after  each  brood  is  reared. 
No  sooner  is  the  nest  cleared  of  one  litter  than  incu- 
bation begins  again,  four  eggs  being  laid  at  each  sit- 


128 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


ting.  Its  food  is  mainly  insects,  and  it  particularly 
delights  in  the  pursuit  of  such  venomous  things  as 
the  scorpion,  upon  which  it  darts  with  rapidity,  sepa- 
rates its  tail  from  the  body,  and  then  takes  both  por- 
tions to  its  young. 


Combat  between  Wrens  and  Whipsnakc. 


When  this  little  bird  came  to  take  up  his  quarters 
with  me  I  knew  that  I  had  a  tenant  for  life,  for  he 
has  been  known  to  reside  in  a  house  during  the  life 
of  its  oldest  inmate.  He  was  welcome,  not  only  be- 
cause he  and  his  sprightly  mate  kept  the  house  rid 
of  poisonous  insects,  but  for  his  song  and  his  cheer- 
ful company.  During  those  long  days  of  rain,  when 
I  was  held  within  the  house,  sitting  by  my  fragrant 
fire,  my  diminutive  companions  sat  with  me,  perched 


I  LIGHT  THE  FRAGRANT  FIRE.  129 

upon  my  cliair-back  or  on  tlie  table,  treating  me  to 
frequent  bursts  of  song ;  and  their  attitude  of  trustful 
friendliness  was  most  touching.  They  viewed  with 
mistrust  the  frequent  intrusion  of  the  mocking  birds, 
and  the  parrots  they  positively  hated,  scolding  them 
with  ardor,  but  always  keeping  out  of  their  way. 

In  this  time  of  rain,  as  Crusoe  says,  "I  found 
much  Employment,  and  very  suitable  also  to  the 
Time,  for  I  found  occasion  for  many  Things  which 
I  had  no  way  to  furnish  myself  with  but  by  hard 
Labor  and  constant  Application." 

Having  brought  with  me  a  goodly  supply  of  cook- 
ing utensils  and  tools,  I  was  not  put  to  the  shifts  he 
was,  but  I  felt  the  need  of  several  things,  when  I  came 
to  gather  in  the  harvest  of  corn — such,  especially,  as  a 
mill  for  grinding  the  grain.  My  flour  and  biscuit  I 
had  used  sparingly,  eking  them  out  with  the  many 
things  the  forest  ajSorded  and  the  wild  grains  and 
fruits  ;  but  by  the  end  of  May  I  could  see  the  bottoms 
of  the  barrels. 

My  friends  had  not  returned  at  the  end  of  a  month, 
as  they  had  agreed  to,  probably  having  thought  the 
better  of  it.  And  indeed  I  saw  no  necessity  for  their 
so  doing,  as  there  was  no  danger  of  my  starving,  my 
exile  being  voluntary  and  my  isolation  of  my  own 
seeking.  In  truth,  I  felt  so  satisfied  with  my  mode 
of  life,  and  fitted  so  snugly  into  my  environment, 
that  I  should  have  resented  any  intrusion. 

1  was,  as  the  great  poet  has  said  of  Crusoe,  mon- 
arch of  all  I  surveyed — at  least,  until  some  one  came 
to  dispute  my  claim.     That  was  my  only  fear :  not 


130  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

that  I  should  suffer  the  evils  of  solitude,  but  that  an 
intruder  might  seek  to  share  it  with  me.  It  was  the 
ideal  existence  which  I  had  hoped  and  prayed  for  all 
the  life  of  my  youth;  in  my  early  manhood  I  was 
permitted  to  realize  it,  and  I  did  indeed  find  it  equal 
to  my  expectations. 

Thus  my  days  passed  pleasantly.  In  the  morning 
the  twittering  of  my  wrens  awoke  me ;  the  songs  of 
my  mocking  birds  were  my  matins ;  the  greetings  of 
my  parrots  saluted  me  when  I  returned  weary  from 
the  hunt ;  and  a  boundless  prospect  of  forest  and  sea 
lay  before  me  when,  at  evening  time,  I  smoked  the 
pipe  of  perfect  peace  on  my  veranda. 

Truly  I  was  content,  and  my  only  trouble  was 
that  others,  one-time  friends  I  wot  of,  could  not  share 
this  solitude  and  this  happiness.  Thinking  of  them,  I 
would  sometimes  breathe  a  sigh,  and  gaze  abstractedly 
out  over  the  forest  and  sea  for  hours,  until  the  trade 
winds  blew  strongly  and  darkness  shut  out  the  pros- 
pect from  my  sight.  At  that  time,  if  at  all,  did  doubts 
assail  me,  and  my  fancies  group  themselves  about  the 
north  star,  on  the  horizon,  crouched  above  the  sea. 

Darkness  and  solitude  are  provocative  of  reflec- 
tion, and  when  we  grope  in  the  dark  chambers  of  the 
past  it  is  the  sad  spirit  that  seizes  us  !  Yes,  the  gray 
ghost  found  me  now  and  then,  as  it  found  the  lonely 
Crusoe ;  but,  like  him,  "  I  gave  hearty  Thanks,  that 
God  had  been  pleased  to  discover  to  me,  even  that  it 
was  possible  I  might  be  more  happy  in  this  solitary 
Condition  than  I  should  have  been  in  Society,  and  in 
all  the  Pleasures  of  the  World." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

TREES  OF  THE  TROPICAL  FOREST. 

Cocoa  palms,  grugus,  and  palmistes — What  a  virgin  forest  is 
like — Grreen  heart  and  purple  heart — Mastic  and  silk  cotton — 
The  tree  Crusoe  made  his  canoe  of — Bamboos  and  logwood. 

The  distinguishing  characteristic  of  the  tropical 
forest  is  the  diversity  of  its  vegetation,  as  contrasted 
with  a  body  of  equal  area  in  the  temperate  regions. 
Then,  again,  it  is  always  abloom,  with  blossoms  of 
orchids  and  creepers,  vines  and  sky-scraping  trees. 
The  flora  of  Tobago,  like  its  fauna,  is  continental, 
instead  of  insular,  for  it  belongs  of  right  to  South 
America,  from  which  continent  it  was  once  separated, 
ages  agone. 

Lying  within  sight  of  the  island  of  Trinidad,  from 
which  the  continent  can  be  dimly  seen,  it  has  the 
same  floral  and  faunal  peculiarities,  so  that  we  may 
study  the  tropical  vegetation  here  without  becoming 
lost  in  the  vastness  of  great  continental  forests.  Half 
of  its  area  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  square  miles  is 
still  a  virgin  wilderness,  and  in  beauty  it  is  unsurpassed. 
There  are,  says  an  old  writer,  whole  groves  of  sassa- 
fras and  other  odoriferous  plants,  which  render  the 
air  wholesome  and  pleasant.    The  nutmeg  and  pimento 

131 


132  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

are  as  good  as  indigenous,  while  the  vanilla  and  the 
true  gum  copal  abound  in  many  spots. 

Along  the  seashore  grows  the  cocoa  palm,  forming 
a  fringe  of  golden  green  between  the  waves  and  the 
forest  barrier.  This  palm  seems  to  delight  in  the 
society  of  man,  and  is  the  most  sociable  tree  to  be 
found  in  the  tropics.  It  was  originally  a  stranger 
here,  like  myself,  but  in  the  course  of  centuries  has 
become  thoroughly  accUmated.  Like  myself,  too,  it 
owed  its  presence  here  to  a  caprice  of  the  sea.  Long 
ages  ago,  perhaps,  a  single  nut  came  dancing  on  the 
crests  of  the  waves,  having  voyaged  hither  from  the  far 
Orient — from  Lidia  or  Ceylon.  Advancing,  reced- 
ing, it  neared  the  strand,  was  tossed  upon  the  beach ; 
a  hurricane  sent  it  over  the  ridge  into  a  safe  haven, 
where  it  sank  into  a  hollow,  and  there  performed  its 
mission  by  sending  rootlets  into  the  sands  and  a  pair 
of  plumules  skyward. 

Other  nuts  may  have  been  sent  to  join  it ;  but  at 
all  events  the  result  has  been  groves  of  cocoa  trees, 
which  form  living  barriers  between  the  sea  sands  and 
the  meadow  land.  Loving  salt  water  as  it  does,  the 
cocoa  palm  stays  near  the  coast,  where  it  can  be  seen 
to  the  best  advantage,  and  where  its  treasures  are 
most  accessible. 

The  trees  gave  me  shade  and  comfort,  for  not  only 
was  my  favorite  promenade  beneath  their  crowns  and 
between  their  stems,  of  a  morning  and  an  evening, 
but  I  drew  a  great  deal  of  sustenance  from  their  fruit. 
The  great  clusters  of  golden-green  nuts  hanging  high, 
it  was  next  to  impossible  for  me  to  climb  to  them,  so 


TREES  OF  THE  TROPICAL  FOREST.     133 

I  had  to  shoot  them  down  with  my  gun.  My  most 
refreshing  drink  was  the  water  of  the  cocoas,  which  I 
drew  through  small  holes  clipped  in  the  shells.  Their 
leaves  covered  my  roof,  from  the  leaf  stalks  I  trimmed 
out  very  good  fishing  poles,  and  from  the  inner  bark 
around  the  stems  I  made  hats  and  caps.  Crusoe  did 
not  think  of  this  lace  bark,  when  he  was  seeking  for 
material  for  a  sieve,  or  he  might  have  made  it  answer 
well. 

There  were  other  palms  on  the  fringe  of  the  forest, 
of  a  different  species  and  genus,  for  while  the  cocoa 
is  known  as  the  nut  bearer  {Cocos  nuciferd)^  the 
others  are  the  seed  bearers,  having  great  clusters  of 
seedlike  nuts,  from  which  a  kind  of  butter  is  made. 
They  are  the  Acrocomia  fusiformis  of  the  botanists, 
and  by  the  natives  called  grugru  palms,  with  spindle- 
shaped  stems  and  dense  prickly  heads  of  long  leaves. 
Their  boles  are  generally  covered  with  vines  hung 
with  great  perforated  leaves,  and  they  are  quite  as 
attractive,  though  in  a  different  way,  as  the  cocoas. 

There  were  cocoas  along  the  shore,  grugrus  at  the 
foothills,  mountain  palms  interspersed  throughout  the 
forest,  and  the  mighty  palmistes  towering  above  them 
all.  The  last,  sometimes  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
in  height,  were  pre-eminent,  the  queens  among  the 
PalrrtaccB^  grand  and  regal,  the  crowns  of  some  of 
them  rising  far  above  the  forest  level,  like  emerald 
diadems. 

There  are  in  these  forests  two  dozen  kinds  of 
trees  that  yield  timber  and  cabinet  woods,  besides  the 
palms,  and  the  shrubs  that  give  dyes  and  useful  arti- 


134 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


cles  to  the  natives.     A  tree  of  gigantic  size  is  the 
green-heart,   which   derives  its  name  from  the  line 


Grugru  ralins. 

green  dust  in  its  pores,  which,  coming  in  contact 
with  the  skin  of  the  workman  cutting  it,  turns  it  red. 


TREES  OF  THE  TROPICAL  FOREST.  135 

This  tree  gives  a  most  valuable  timber,  as  also  does 
another  called  the  cog- wood  ;  and  another,  the  bullet 
tree,  the  wood  of  which  is  dense  and  hard,  has  an 
edible  fruit,  and  from  it  exudes  a  milky  juice  which 
possesses  the  properties  of  gutta-percha. 

Another  lofty  tree  of  great  girth  is  the  mastic, 
with  its  dense  yellow  wood.  One  of  the  largest  of 
the  forest  trees  is  the  locust,  with  towering  top  and 
spreading  branches.  Its  wood  is  hard  and  compact, 
and  is  made  into  tables  and  sideboards.  The  fiddle- 
wood  yields  a  dark-colored  timber;  and  the  fustic, 
besides  giving  us  the  well-known  dye,  has  qualities 
which  render  it  valuable  as  a  timber  tree,  being  large 
and  durable. 

The  cypresses  are  of  two  kinds,  the  white,  which 
has  a  wood  light  and  sweet  smelling,  and  the  black, 
which  is  very  dark.  Then  there  is  the  horseflesh, 
with  purple  wood,  and  the  purple-heart  itself,  with 
delicate  streaks  of  purple  throughout  a  body  of  white. 
The  crabwood  is  another  great  tree,  with  dark-brown 
wood,  its  name,  it  is  said,  being  a  corruption  of  the 
Carib  "  carapP 

A  beautiful  hard  wood  is  obtained  from  the  yel- 
low prickle,  and  a  yellow  from  the  yellow  sanders, 
which  also  yields  a  noted  dye  of  commerce.  The 
rosewood  is  found  here,  but  not  in  great  quantity, 
and  perhaps  the  mahogany;  but  the  most  useful  of 
them  all  is  the  great  cedar  (Cedrala  odorata\  the 
wood  of  which  is  red  in  color,  easily  worked  and 
aromatic.  All  the  world  knows  of  the  uses  to  which 
it  is  put,  in  the  manufacture  of  cigar  boxes,  chests 


136  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

proof  against  moths  and  insects,  and  furniture  gen- 
erally. 

It  was  of  a  cedar  that  Crusoe  tried  to  fashion  his 
great  canoe,  and  which  was  in  the  end  such  a  dismal 
failure — that  is,  he  says  it  was  a  cedar ;  but  I  think 
it  more  likely  to  have  been  a  gum  tree,  or  a  ceiba — a 
silk  cotton.  He  felt  the  need  of  a  boat  or  canoe,  you 
may  remember,  with  which  to  explore  the  coast  and 
the  creeks,  and  so,  in  his  deliberate  way,  he  set  him- 
self the  task : 

"  Whether  it  was  not  possible  to  make  myself  a 
Canoe,  or  Periagua,  such  as  the  Natives  of  those 
Climates  make,  even  without  Tools,  or,  as  I  might 
say,  without  Hands — viz.,  of  the  Trunk  of  a  great 
Tree." 

Finally :  "  I  fell'd  a  Cedar  Tree ;  I  question  much 
whether  Solomon  ever  had  such  a  one  for  the  build- 
ing of  his  Temple  at  Jerusalem.  It  was  five  Foot 
ten  Inches  diameter  at  the  lower  Part,  next  the 
Stump,  and  four  Foot  eleven  Inches  diameter  at  the 
End  of  twenty-two  Foot,  after  which  it  lessen'd  for  a 
while,  and  then  parted  into  Branches." 

We  all  know  the  termination  of  his  arduous  task 
— ^that  he  cut  down  the  great  tree,  hollowed  it  out 
laboriously  with  fire  and  axe  in  true  aboriginal  fash- 
ion, and  then,  after  all  his  labor,  could  not  launch  it ! 

Taking  his  misspent  labor  as  a  warning,  and  hav- 
ing so  much  to  do  on  land  that  I  did  not  need  to  ven- 
ture at  sea  for  many  months  at  least,  I  reserved  my 
strength  and  time  for  more  useful  work.  With  all 
his  seafaring,  Crusoe  was  a  true  "landlubber,"  and 


TREES  OF  THE  TROPICAL  FOREST.     137 

sailor  men  would  go  further  and  call  him  a  "  Jonah," 
having  met  with  so  many  rebuffs  at  the  hands  of  old 
Neptune. 

I  have  not  enumerated  all  the  arboreal  residents 
of  the  island,  but  suflBcient  to  show  that  I  was  well 
enough  provided  with  trees  for  use  as  timber  and  for 
making  the  few  articles  of  furniture  that  my  necessi- 
ties seemed  to  require.  I  did  not  immediately  ex- 
ploit the  resources  of  my  domain,  but  the  informa- 
tion I  have  laid  before  my  readers  was  only  gained 
after  months  of  investigation.  Several  months  passed 
away  before  I  felt  the  necessity  of  resorting  to  the 
supplies  at  hand  in  the  forest  for  the  furnishing  of  my 
house  and  for  subsistence. 

In  enumerating  the  members  of  my  sylvan  aris- 
tocracy I  should  not  omit  the  Bainbuso^^  for  they  were 
among  my  nearest  and  dearest  neighbors.  A  great 
clump  of  bamboos  grew  almost  at  the  door  of  my 
seaside  hut,  and  a  beautiful  group  overshadowed  the 
stream  where  I  washed,  of  a  morning,  and  dipped  out 
water  for  culinary  use.  They  grew  close  to  the  bank, 
a  perfect  cluster  of  spears  of  Anak,  straight  and  tall, 
but  spreading  out  sheaf -like  at  the  crown,  and  with 
fine,  feathery  leaves. 

Beneath  the  sheaf  were  scattered  the  dead  and 
yellow  leaves,  constantly  dropping;  and  as  nothing 
else  grew  where  these  had  fallen,  the  sloping  bank 
was  an  inviting  place  for  me  to  rest  and  listen  to  the 
murmurings  of  my  darling  brook.  Some  of  the  steins 
were  five  inches  in  diameter  and  the  largest  of  them 
I  thinned  out,  cutting  them  into  lengths  of  six  feet 
11 


138 


TREES  OF  THE  TROPICAL  FOREST.     139 

or  so,  and  making  of  tliem  little  troughs  for  holding 
water.  As  you  know,  of  course,  the  bamboo  is  round 
and  hard,  the  stem  being  hollow,  divided  by  partitions 
or  joints,  and  the  outside  covered  with  a  siliceous  coat- 
ing. I  split  the  stems  longitudinally  for  troughs  and 
gutters,  but  cut  them  across  at  the  joints  for  other 
uses,  especially  for  flower-pots,  when  later  I  started  a 
nursery  and  became  a  gardener  and  horticulturist. 

They  cost  nothing  but  the  labor,  served  the  pur- 
pose better  than  any  other  kind,  and  were  so  abun- 
dant as  to  be  inexhaustible.  Bamboo  Bank  became 
my  favorite  resort ;  with  a  book,  or  with  some  light 
labor  to  perform,  I  always  sought  this  shady  spot  with 
its  circlet  of  leaf-carpeted  earth.  The  slightest  breath 
of  wind  set  the  leaves  to  dancing,  and  when  the 
strong  breezes  blew  the  great  spears  rattled  and 
clashed  together,  like  the  lances  of  a  barbarian  host. 

I  confess  to  being  partial  to  the  palms  and  the 
bamboos,  though  this  feeling  may  have  been  due  to  the 
fact  that  they  were  not  only  very  beautiful  in  them- 
selves, but  were  the  nearest  things  of  beauty  in  my 
daily  life,  and  closely  identified  with  my  first  camp. 
The  bay,  the  beach,  the  rippling  stream,  the  savanna, 
uniting  the  bright  strand  with  the  gloomy  forest — all 
these  were  dear  to  me,  and  none  of  them  appealed 
more  strongly  to  me  than  the  bananas  and  plantains 
that  lined  the  stream  above.  Indeed,  as  I  reflect 
upon  it,  I  think  my  lot  was  most  fortunate  ;  my  heart 
swelled  with  gladness  whenever  I  thought  upon  my 
blessings;  I  looked  upon  my  surroundings  as  the 
most  delightful  that  man  could  desire. 


140  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

The  trees  I  have  enumerated  were  all  wild,  either 
indigenous  or  so  long  resident  as  to  have  become  en- 
titled to  be  so  considered.  Some  of  them,  besides 
furnishing  valuable  timber,  yielded  rare  gums,  like  the 
"locust,"  the  parrot  apple,  and  the  mammie  apple, 
used  in  the  arts  ;  and  one  kind  so  fragrant  that  it  has 
been  burned  in  the  churches  as  incense. 

Valuable  dyes  are  extracted  from  various  woods 
and  plants,  as  from  the  logwood,  found  along  the 
shores  of  the  lagoons,  the  eboe  wood,  and  the  indigo. 
Having  no  use  for  any  dye,  I  did  not  avail  myself 
of  the  material  for  any  purpose  whatever ;  but  one 
day,  being  out  of  ink,  I  found  a  very  good  substi- 
tute in  the  juice  of  a  banana  leaf.  I  do  not  recall 
that  Crusoe  found  the  banana  among  the  vegetable 
products  of  his  island  ;  but  if  he  did  this  was  one  use 
he  did  not  put  it  to,  for  he  says,  "  I  could  not  make 
any  Ink  by  any  Means  that  I  could  devise." 

That  Crusoe  had  some  knowledge  of  the  trees  of 
this  island  is  shown  by  his  naive  suggestions  that  the 
trees  he  found  were  this  or  that,  but  without  commit- 
ting himself  to  a  positive  definition,  as,  for  instance  : 
"  At  last  Friday  pitched  upon  a  Tree,  for  I  found  he 
knew  much  better  than  I  what  kind  of  Wood  was 
fitted  for  the  Canoe ;  nor  can  I  tell  to  this  Day  what 
Wood  to  call  it  except  that  it  was  very  like  the  Tree 
we  call  Fustic,  or  between  that  and  Nicaragua  Wood, 
for  it  was  much  of  the  same  Colour  and  Smell.  And 
Friday  was  for  burning  the  Hollow  or  Cavity  of  this 
Tree  out,  to  make  it  for  a  Boat." 

One  tree,  however,  Crusoe  makes  no  mention  of. 


TREES  OF  THE  TROPICAL  FOREST. 


141 


and  I  am  very  sure  he  would  if  he  had  met  with  it, 
and  that  is  the  manchihneel,  to  which  I  have  already- 
alluded. 

Many  years  later  another  distinguished  English- 
man, no  less  a  personage  than  Lord  Nelson,  was  badly 
poisoned  by.  drinking  water  from  a  pool  near  which 
the  manchihneel  grew.  He  suffered  so  severely  that 
he  was  obliged  to  leave  his  ship  and  go  home  to  re- 
cruit his  health. 


— ^ 


!  \ 


Distant  View  of  Tobago. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

ALL    ABOUT   CRUSOe's    "  MAN    FRIDAY." 

Strange  footprints  on  the  sands — Crusoe's  horrible  discovery — 
Cannibals  come  to  Tobago  to  banquet — Crusoe  slays  many  and 
disperses  them — He  rescues  a  young  Indian  whom  he  names 
Friday— Incontestable  proof  that  Friday  was  a  West  Indian 
Carib. 

Seated  before  my  incense-breathing  embers  in  my 
hut  on  the  hill,  I  devoted  those  days  when  the  floods 
came  down  and  I  was  close  prisoned  by  the  rains,  to 
an  exhaustive  reading  of  old  books.  I  had  brought 
them  with  me,  and  they  were  all  about  Crusoe  and 
his  island,  the  adventures  he  had,  and  the  people  he 
saw,  who  were,  as  he  himself  says,  "  indeed  the  worst 
of  Salvages,  for  they  were  Cannibals,  or  Man-eaters, 
and  failed  not  to  murther  and  devour  all  the  humane 
Bodies  that  fall  into  their  Hands." 

Now  I  wonder  if  all  my  readers  have  not  had  a 
similar  curiosity  to  mine :  to  learn  who  those  "  man- 
eaters"  were,  whence  they  came,  and  whether  they 
were  real  or  fictional  ?  I  shall  assume  it  to  be  a 
subject  worthy  of  investigation,  because  thereby  I 
shall  be  enabled  to  settle  satisfactorily  (for  all  time, 
I  hope)  the  genesis  of  one  of  the  most  interesting 
characters  of  history — Crusoe's  "  Man  Friday." 

142 


R.Crufi)eit»rcufS  hus>ran.Friday  and  Kills  his  I^irfuers  .  /W.^.  r.i^  1$^ 

(Engraving  from  the  third  edition  of  Crusoe,  1719.) 
143 


144  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

In  tlie  first  place,  let  lis  inquire  how  it  all  came 
about.  In  the  words  of  our  hero  :  "  It  happen'd  one 
Day  about  Noon.  Going  towards  my  Boat  I  was  ex- 
ceedingly surpriz'd  with  the  print  of  a  Man^s  naked 
Foot  on  the  Shore,  which  was  very  plain  to  be  seen 
in  the  Sand.  .  .  .  When  I  was  come  down  the  Hill  to 
the  Shore,  I  was  perfectly  amaz'd  ;  nor  is  it  possible 
for  me  to  express  the  horror  of  my  Mind  at  seeing 
the  Shore  spread  with  Skulls,  Hands,  Feet,  and  other 
Bones  of  humane  Bodies  ;  and  particularly  I  observ'd 
a  Place  where  there  had  been  a  Fire  made  and  a 
Circle  dug  in  the  Earth  like  a  Cock-pit,  where  it  is 
suppos'd  the  savage  Wretches  had  sat  down  to  their 
inhumane  Feasting  upon  the  Bodies  of  their  fellow 
Creatures." 

Crusoe  made  this  disquieting  discovery  after  he 
had  been  on  his  island  eighteen  years,  and  as  a  conse- 
quence he  was  thrown  into  convulsions  of  terror ;  he 
fled  to  his  cave,  where  he  remained  self-prisoned  for 
weeks,  and  when  he  did  come  out  it  was  only  after 
taking  most  extraordinary  precautions  against  sur- 
prise and  capture.  Without  commenting  on  the  emo- 
tions of  Crusoe,  the  frequent  frights  he  was  thrown 
into,  and  his  mental  disturbances  thereat,  let  us  now 
try  to  find  out  who  these  savages  were  that  had  in- 
vaded his  domain.  They  were  Indians,  of  course — 
that  is,  red  men — discovered  and  named  by  Columbus, 
on  his  first  voyage  to  America,  in  1492. 

The  next  year  (1493)  Columbus  sailed  still  far- 
ther southward,  and  in  the  islands  of  Dominica  and 
Guadeloupe  he  found  the  fierce  Caribs,  people  be- 


ALL  ABOUT  CRUSOE'S   *^MAN  FRIDAY."       145 

longing  to  the  same  race  of  red  men,  but  of  a  differ- 
ent family.  They  were  brave  and  warlike,  and  gave 
the  Spaniards  such  a  warm  reception  that  they  left 
them  alone  for  many  years  after,  and  in  revenge 
called  them  man-eaters.  Thus  the  word  cannibal^ 
which  is  derived  from  Carib,  the  name  of  the  tribe, 
gained  its  present  meaning.  From  the  same  name 
the  great  Shakespeare  derived  that  of  his  savage  hero 
"Caliban,"  who  appears  in  The  Tempest,  and  who 
was  distantly  related  to  "  Friday."  * 

Five  years  after  this  voyage  Columbus  sailed  still 
farther  to  the  south,  discovering  the  great  island 
of  Trinidad,  opposite  one  of  the  mouths  of  the 
Orinoco,  and  without  doubt  sighting  the  island  of 
Tobago. 

Not  quite  a  hundred  years  later  Trinidad  was 
visited  by  the  English  admiral,  Sir  Walter  Ealeigh, 
who  took  the  island  from  the  Spaniards  and  made  a 
famous  expedition  up  the  Orinoco  in  search  of  myth- 
ical El  Dorado,  with  its  golden  palace  and  its  king 
almost  smothered  with  gold  dust.  So,  you  see,  this 
region  was  very  well  known,  when  Crusoe  came  sail- 
ing into  it,  about  1659 ;  and  all  its  inhabitants  had 
been  accurately  described  when  the  famous  book  was 
written,  sixty  years  afterward. 

Now,  Man  Friday  was  clearly  a  Carib.     Instead 

*  Raleigh  and  Shakespeare  were  so  exactly  contemporaneous, 
the  span  of  the  latter's  life  being  included  within  that  of  the 
former,  that  it  is  more  than  probable  the  great  bard  drew  upon 
the  great  admiral  for  material,  while  the  novelist  Defoe  garnered 
stores  of  information  from  both. 


146 


ALL  ABOUT  CRUSOE'S   **MAN  FRIDAY.'*       147 

of  being  in  any  way  related  to  the  Chilians  or  the 
Patagonians  or  the  Fuegians — as  some  would  have  us 
believe — ^he  was  intimately  connected  with  the  very 
tribes  discovered  by  Columbus,  inhabiting  the  islands 
known  as  the  Caribbees.  I  assert,  and  with  confi- 
dence, that  Friday  came  from  the  island  of  Trinidad  ; 
that  he  was  a  Carib,  and  belonged  to  the  maligned 
tribe  of  Indians  called  by  the  Spaniards  "  cannibales." 
And  I  am  well  supported  in  this  assertion,  since  it 
was  also  made  by  that  eminent  writer,  the  late  Charles 
Kingsley,  who  says:  "Crusoe's  Island  is  almost^ cer- 
tainly meant  for  Tobago ;  Man  Friday  had  been 
stolen  in  Trinidad ! " 

Man  Friday,  then,  was  a  Carib.  Descendants  of 
his  relatives  still  reside  in  two  islands  of  the  Carib- 
bees, called  Dominica  and  St.  Vincent ;  but  they  are 
no  longer  eaters  of  human  flesh,  being  as  peaceable 
as  was  Friday  himself  after  Crusoe  had  completed  his 
education. 

Crusoe  discovered  footprints  on  the  sands — so  did 
I.  But  those  I  found  were  more  in  the  nature  of 
"  footprints  on  the  sands  of  time,"  being  relics  of  the 
Indians  who  had  lived  here  when  Columbus  and  Cru- 
soe themselves  were  alive.  In  the  sand  drift  behind 
my  hut,  and  occasionally  in  the  forest  soil,  I  found 
many  traces  of  the  departed  Indians,  such  as  stone 
axes,  hatchets,  spear  and  arrow  heads.  On  some  of 
the  cliffs  also  I  found  their  rude  inscriptions,  carved 
long  centuries  ago.  These  remains  showed  that  In- 
dians had  often  visited  the  place,  and  in  that  par- 
ticular confirmed  Crusoe's  story. 


148 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


Now,  it  has  never  been  proved  that  the  Caribs  of 
the  "West  Indies  were  cannibals.  Crusoe  only  repeats 
the  fable  of  the  Spaniards,  and  they  never  saw  the 
Indians  actually  eating  human  flesh.  Nevertheless, 
on  the  strength  of  this  assumption  he  prepares  for 


Carib  implements  of  stone. 

battle  :  girds  on  his  great  cutlass,  his  hatchet,  and  his 
"  store  of  ammunition,"  throws  a  big  musket  over 
each  shoulder,  sticks  a  brace  of  pistols  in  his  belt,  and 
then  sallies  forth,  to  conquer  or  to  die. 

I  can  not  help  it,  but  really  my  sympathies 
were  entirely  with  the  "inhumane  salvages,"  who 
were  comparatively  defenseless,  having  only  their 
stone  spears  and  battle-axes ;  while  the  ferocious 
Crusoe  carried  a  whole  arsenal  of  firearms,  against 
which  the  poor  wretches  could  make  no  successful 
resistance. 


ALL  ABOUT  CRUSOE'S   "MAN  FRIDAY."       149 

He  surprised  them,  jou  know,  at  their  preparations 
for  the  feast,  and  while  thej  were  stupefied  with  amaze- 
ment at  the  desolating  fire  from  his  muskets,  he  killed 
or  wounded  nearly  all  of  them.  Friday,  after  he  had 
recovered  from  his  fright,  killed  six  of  the  Indians, 
despatching  such  of  them  as  were  merely  wounded, 
and  the  grand  total  was  nineteen. 

There  was  one  thing,  however,  that  gave  me  a 
great  respect  for  Crusoe — even  though  I  had  my 
doubts  as  to  the  wisdom  of  it — and  that  was  the  tre- 
mendous charge  of  powder  and  ball  he  used  to  ram 
into  his  old  musket.  A  handful  of  powder  and  "  six 
or  seven  bullets  "  was  an  ordinary  load,  according  to 
Crusoe ;  and  he  used  to  shoot  it  off  as  calmly  as 
though  he  were  merely  exploding  a  bunch  of  fire- 
crackers ! 

Of  course,  every  boy  in  America  remembers  the 
circumstances  of  the  first  meeting,  when  poor  Friday, 
having  been  brought  to  Crusoe's  island,  Tobago,  by 
the  cruel  cannibals,  seized  the  first  opportunity  offered 
for  escape,  and  ran  right  into  Crusoe's  arms.  It  is 
hard  to  say  which  was  the  more  frightened  of  the 
two :  Crusoe  in  his  horrible  armor  of  shaggy  goat- 
skin, or  trembling  "  Friday  "  in  no  skin  but  his  very 
own. 

But  the  helpless  Indian  boy  finally  settled  it  by 
crawling  to  Crusoe's  feet  and  placing  one  foot  of  the 
strange  being  on  his  head,  in  token  of  submission. 
Neither  could  understand  the  other's  language,  at  first ; 
but  there  was  between  them  a  universal  speech — that 
of  love  and  trust — a  tie  that  bound  them  together  and 


150  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

made  all  communication  easy.  The  young  Indian 
was  called  "  Friday,"  as  you  will  remember,  because 
he  was  discovered  and  saved  on  that  day  of  the  week 
— the  first  human  being  the  hermit  had  met  and  con- 
versed with  in  many  a  long  year. 

\  "  He  was  a  comely,  handsome  Fellow,  perfectly 
well  made,  with  strait,  strong  Limbs,  not  too  large ; 
tall  and  well  shaped.  He  had  a  good  Countenance, 
not  a  fierce  and  surly  Aspect;  but  seem'd  to  have 
Something  very  manly  in  his  Face.  His  Hair  was 
long  and  black,  not  curl'd  like  Wool ;  his  Forehead 
very  high  and  large,  and  a  great  vivacity  and  spark- 
ling sharpness  in  his  Eyes. 

"  The  colour  of  his  Skin  was  not  black,  but  very 
tawney  ;  and  yet,  not  of  an  ugly  nauseous  tawney,  as 
the  Brazilians  and  Virginians,  and  other  Natives  of 
America  are;  but  of  a  bright  kind  of  a  dun  olive 
Colour,  that  had  in  it  something  very  agreeable, 
though  not  easy  to  describe.  His  Face  was  round 
and  plump,  his  Nose  small,  but  not  flat  like  the  Ne- 
groes' ;  a  very  good  Mouth,  thin  Lips,  and  his  fine 
Teeth  well  set,  and  white  as  Ivory." 

That  is  Man  Friday's  portrait,  as  drawn  by  Eobin- 
son  Crusoe,  mariner,  shortly  after  these  two  distin- 
guished heroes  of  fiction  became  acquainted.  And  it 
is  sufficiently  accurate  for  us  to  identify,  by  means  of 
it,  the  Indian's  surviving  relatives,  many  degrees 
removed — the  Caribs  of  the  Lesser  Antilles  of  the 
present  day. 

Friday  informed  his  master  that  the  few  poor 
wretches  who  escaped  would  tell  their  friends  on  the 


151 


152  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

other  island  (Trinidad)  that  they  had  been  killed  by 
thunder  and  lightning,  as  this  was  their  first  ac- 
quaintance with  firearms.  But  this  is  one  of  the  many 
anachronisms  of  the  book ;  for  at  the  time  "  Crusoe  " 
was  written  (1719)  there  were  no  Indians  on  the 
coasts  of  the  Americas  and  the  West  Indies  unac- 
quainted with  firearms.  At  that  time  more  than  two 
hundred  years  had  passed  since  the  first  Spaniards 
had  carried  guns  and  powder  thither,  and  the  rude 
weapons  of  the  aborigines  had  long  since  been  super- 
seded by  those  of  the  Europeans.  Yet  all  the  sav- 
ages that  Crusoe  met  were  armed  with  ''wooden 
swords  and  clubs,  bows  and  arrows." 

Upon  one  point,  however,  the  author  of  "  Crusoe  " 
is  correct :  that  tlie  Indians  "  ate  only  such  as  were 
taken  in  battle  "  ;  for,  like  the  Aztecs  of  Mexico,  the 
Caribs,  if  they  were  given  to  the  practice  of  cannibal- 
ism at  all,  were  merely  "  ritual  cannibals,"  so  called — 
that  is,  they  ate  the  flesh  of  their  enemies  merely 
from  motives  apart  from  a  desire  for  human  flesh  as 
food.  If  their  prisoners  were  noted  for  their  bravery, 
they  believed  that  by  devouring  their  flesh  some  of 
their  valiant  quality  would  thereby  be  imparted  to 
their  own  frame,  and  proceeded  accordingly. 

That  Defoe  was  generally  accurate  in  his  descrip- 
tions, and  rarely  departed  from  the  lines  of  verity, 
is  shown  in  all  his  attempts  to  depict  the  environ- 
ment of  his  hero ;  he  never  makes  a  mistake  in  that 
direction. 

Finally,  to  conclusively  prove  that  Man  Friday 
was  an  Indian  of  the  southern  West  Indies,  I  will 


ALL  ABOUT  CRUSOE'S  ''MAN  FRIDAY. 


153 


quote  a  fragment  of  a  conversation  between  Crusoe 
and  his  servant:  "I  asked  him  the  names  of  the 
several  Nations  of  his  sort  of  People,  but  could  get 
no  other  name  than  Caribs^  from  whence  I  easily  un- 


Carib  girl  of  to-day. 

derstood  that  these  islands  were  the  Caribbees,  which 
our  Maps  place  on  the  coast  of  America,"  etc. 

We  come  new  to  Crusoe's  departure:  "When  I 
took  leave  of  this  Island,  I  carry'd  on  Board,  for  Eel- 
iques,  the  great  Goat-skin  Cap  I  had  made;  my  Um- 
brella and  my  Parrot.    And  thus  I  left  the  Island,  the 
12 


154  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

19tli  Day  of  December,  in  the  Year  1686,  after  I  had 
been  upon  it  eight  and  twenty  Years,  two  Months, 
and  19  Days." 

When  he  arrived  in  England,  June,  1687,  after 
an  absence  of  thirty -five  years,  he  was  well  along  in 
life ;  but  even  then  he  married.  Eight  years  later, 
however,  his  wife  died,  and  he  went  roving  again, 
impelled  by  an  irresistible  desire  to  revisit  the  scene 
of  his  adventures,  which  he  reached  in  Apnl,  1695. 
In  the  narrative  of  that  second  voyage  to  Tobago  he 
again  refers  to  Trinidad  as  a  neighboring  island,  for 
he  went  ashore  there  and  saw  some  of  the  Indians. 

Lastly,  in  bringing  to  a  conclusion  all  this  cumu- 
lative evidence  in  favor  of  Tobago  as  the  island  of 
Crusoe's  exile,  and  of  Friday  as  an  Indian  of  the 
West  Indies,  I  wish  to  reiterate  that  Selkirk's  was 
not  the  only  narrative  from  which  Defoe  might  have 
derived  suggestions,  if  not  actual  material,  for  a  story. 
The  chronicles  of  the  Spanish  conquests  are  replete 
with  adventures  strange  and  wonderful ;  the  voyages 
of  Drake,  Morgan,  and  Hawkins  were  full  of  incidents 
such  as  the  novelist  would  like  to  seize  upon  and 
weave  into  a  story. 

It  can  not  be  doubted  that  Defoe  had  grasped  all 
these  things  before,  that  he  had  stored  in  memory  the 
description  of  early  voyagers,  and  especially  Kaleigh's, 
and  was  only  awaiting  a  hero,  when  along  came  Sel- 
kirk. This  I  am  constrained  to  believe :  that,  having 
got  together  this  food  for  fiction  and  this  hero  to  his 
mind,  he  merely  waited  during  many  years  for  leisure 
to  shape  it  according  to  his  fancy ;  that  he  was  engaged 


ALL   ABOUT  CRUSOE'S   "MAN  FRIDAY."       155 

for  years  in  the  preparation  of  the  story,  in  digesting 
the  material  for  it ;  but  there  are  many  evidences  of 
haste  in  its  final  construction. 

Crusoe,  then,  though  he  may  have  been  most 
forcibly  suggested  by  Selkirk,  is  in  reality  the  sub- 
stance of  many  Selkirks — the  quintessence  of  all  the 
shipwrecked  mariners  of  note,  from  the  time  of 
Columbus  to  the  year  1700.  This  subtle  magician, 
this  cunning  alchemist,  Defoe,  subjected  many  exiles 
to  the  fires  of  his  imagination,  ere  he  found  Crusoe 
and  Friday  in  his  crucible  ! 


Carib  celt,  or  "  thunderbolt." 


CHAPTEK  XYIL 

TREED   BY    WILD    PECCARIES. 

How  the  hunter  was  hunted — All  night  in  a  tree— A  perilous  ex- 
periment— A  terrible  tusker — Man  Friday  to  the  rescue — 
The  first  human  being  I  had  seen  for  months. 

In  the  chapter  preceding  I  gave  the  results  of  my 
rainy-day  investigations.  In  this  I  shall  describe  my 
encounter  with  the  largest  wild  quadrupeds  of  Tobago, 
the  peccaries. 

One  day,  during  a  fine  interval  in  the  rainy  season, 
I  penetrated  the  forest  much  farther  than  I  had  done 
before.  I  went  so  far,  in  fact,  that  I  had  difficulty 
in  determining  my  location,  and  was  in  doubt  how  to 
reach  my  camp.  At  last  coming  to  a  cliff  which  over- 
hung a  stream  and  gave  some  shelter,  I  sat  down  to 
think  it  over. 

Beneath  the  cliff  there  was  a  cave,  dry  and  quite 
deep,  which  offered  a  retreat  for  the  night,  if  it  should 
chance  that  I  could  not  reach  home.  Placing  my 
gun  far  in,  out  of  the  wet,  I  sat  in  the  cave's  mouth 
and  abandoned  myself  to  gloomy  reflections. 

I  was  rudely  aroused,  however,  by  a  sound  quite 
near  me ;  and  looking  up,  I  saw  the  animal  which,  of 
all  four-footed  creatures,  I  dreaded  most  to  meet,  at 

150 


TREED  BY  WILD   PECCARIES.  157 

such  a  time  and  in  such  a  place.  It  was  short  and 
sturdy  in  shape  and  dark  in  color — a  miniature  hog ; 
in  fact,  a  peccary — I  recognized  him  at  a  glance. 
I  knew,  too,  that  there  were  likely  to  be  other  pec- 
caries not  far  away. 

Meanwhile  he  stood  staring  at  me,  as  if  to  inquire 
by  what  right  I  had  taken  possession  of  his  den.  He 
did  not  even  move  when  I  rose  and  reached  in  for  my 
gun,  but  spread  his  legs  apart  and  shook  his  vicious- 
looking  head,  in  a  manner  that  indicated  a  determina- 
tion to  attack,  rather  than  retreat  a  single  step.  It 
was  then  quite  clear  to  me  that  I  was  occupying  the 
entrance  to  his  habitation,  and  that  he  was  very 
anxious  for  me  to  get  out  of  the  way. 

He  made  several  feints  and  lunges  as  if  to  pass 
me,  and  dodged  about  so  rapidly  that  for  a  while  I 
could  get  no  good  aim  at  a  vulnerable  spot  in  his 
tough,  hairy  hide.  But  at  last  as  he  halted  a  moment 
beneath  the  cliff,  seemingly  about  to  charge  upon  me, 
I  gave  him  a  load  of  coarse  bird-shot,  back  of  the 
fore  shoulder.  This,  however,  was  worse  than  useless. 
It  did  not  kill  him,  but  merely  infuriated  him.  He 
fell,  to  be  sure,  but  with  his  snout  toward  the  enemy, 
and  gave  utterance  to  such  unearthly  sounds  that  I 
was  much  alarmed.  And  with  good  reason ;  for 
either  his  horrid  squeals  or  the  report  of  my  gun 
caused  a  whole  herd  of  peccaries  to  start  up — they 
seemed  to  come  right  out  of  the  ground.  They  be- 
came perfectly  frenzied  at  the  sight  of  their  wounded 
companion  ;  and  after  rubbing  noses  with  him  a  mo- 
ment or  two,  and  inquiring,  brute  fashion,  the  cause 


158  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

of  his  trouble,  they  all  made  a  dash  at  me.  I  now 
had  both  barrels  of  my  gun  loaded  with  larger  shot, 
and  let  the  ugly  brutes  have  them,  right  and  left, 
bowling  over  two  of  the  largest.  I  then  scrambled 
up  the  cliff  as  far  as  I  could  go. 

It  was  not  very  far — not  far  enough,  in  fact — for 
they  came  after  me,  pell-mell,  tumbling  over  each 
other,  in  their  eagerness  to  avenge  their  friend. 
There  was  one  old  "tusker,"  whose  white  teeth 
gleamed  wickedly  through  his  parted  lips,  and  he  led 
the  charge,  getting  so  near  to  me  that  one  of  my 
leggings  was  ripped  up  and  a  small  gash  cut  in  one 
leg.  A  well-put  kick  in  his  jaws  sent  him  tumbling 
down  among  the  others,  though  he  was  instantly  up 
again  and  at  me,  the  fire  flashing  from  his  eyes,  and 
his  lips  dripping  foam. 

In  the  brief  interval,  I  had  drawn  myself  as  far 
up  as  the  narrow  ledge  I  was  on  would  permit ;  but 
this  was  only  a  few  inches  beyond  the  reach  of  the 
old  boar,  in  his  desperate  lunges,  and  even  there  I 
could  only  hold  on  with  great  difficulty. 

At  imminent  risk  of  falling  among  that  grunting, 
writhing  mass  of  stark-mad  peccaries,  I  got  a  cartridge 
out  of  my  belt  (but  whether  of  large  or  small  shot  I 
could  not  tell)  and  finally  managed  to  slip  it  into  my 
gun.  This  load  I  sent  right  into  the  face  and  eyes  of 
the  "  tusker,"  and  over  he  went,  landing  at  the  base 
of  the  cliff,  where  he  spun  round  and  round  on  his 
back  at  a  lively  rate. 

The  cliff  above  me  was  very  steep,  and  my  foot- 
hold so  precarious  that  I  was  in  constant  danger  of 


TREED  BY  WILD  PECCARIES.  159 

falling ;  but,  projecting  from  a  rent  in  the  rocks,  not 
more  than  twenty  feet  away,  I  saw  a  large  tree,  over- 
hanging the  bed  of  the  stream.  If  only  I  could 
secure  refuge  in  that  tree !  There  I  should  be  safe, 
at  least  for  the  time ;  but  the  trouble  was  to  get 
there,  without  slipping  and  falling  into  the  midst  of 
that  herd  of  savage  pigs  beneath  me. 

Slinging  my  gun  over  my  shoulder,  I  began  the 
perilous  experiment.  My  motions,  of  course,  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  the  herd,  and  they  all  dashed 
wildly  at  the  rock,  but  the  foremost  fell  short  by 
nearly  a  foot,  despite  his  most  frantic  efforts.  My 
feelings,  at  that  moment,  were  indescribable ;  but  1 
shut  my  eyes  to  the  possibility  of  a  fall,  and  concen- 
trated all  my  powers  in  my  finger  tips,  clinging  to 
the  wall  of  rock  like  a  limpet,  and  worming  my  way 
along  inch  by  inch.  My  porcine  guard  below  con- 
tinued to  inform  me  of  their  presence,  grunting  their 
disapproval  of  my  flight,  and  gnashing  their  teeth  in 
expectation  of  a  chance  to  whet  them  on  my  bones. 
I  was  keenly  aware  of  their  every  motion,  yet  dared 
not  look  in  their  direction,  but  kept  my  eyes  fixed 
upon  a  friendly  limb  which  reached  out  toward  me ; 
and  this  I  finally  grasped,  after  what  seemed  to  me 
an  age  of  anxious  expectation. 

Safe  in  the  tree  at  last,  I  seated  myself  among  a 
spongy  mass  of  wild  pines  and  dripping,  broad-leaved 
plants.  It  was  not  the  pleasantest  seat  in  the  world, 
and  I  felt,  as  Crusoe  once  said,  that  I  had  found  a 
"  dreadful  deliverance,"  though  I  had  escaped  imme- 
diate .  death.     From   its   almost   horizontal   position, 


160  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

hanging  over  the  ravine,  the  tree  gave  me  but  little 
shelter,  and  I  was  exposed  to  the  full  force  of  the 
rain,  which  fell  at  intervals  throughout  the  day.  But 
I  had  chosen  what  seemed  to  me  the  lesser  of  the  two 
evils,  and  must  abide  the  consequences. 

The  "evils"  from  which  I  had  escaped  now 
counted  up  some  twenty  in  number.  They  no  longer 
seemed  animated  by  any  special  fury,  but  they  did 
seem  to  consider  it  their  duty  to  await  my  descent ; 
and  there  was  something  particularly  discouraging  in 
their  attitude  of  sullen,  dogged  deteniiination  to  stay 
right  there  till  I  came  down,  whether  it  were  next 
day  or  next  week.  No  amount  of  shooting  or  shout- 
ing seemed  to  affect  that  determination,  and  so,  after 
laying  out  several  of  them  with  charges  of  the  largest 
shot  I  had,  I  desisted  from  my  attempts  to  drive  them 
away,  for  I  had  not  cartridges  enough  to  exterminate 
the  whole  gang. 

So  there  they  sat  all  day  long,  grimly  watching. 
I  pictured  to  myself  the  horrors  of  the  situation  if 
they  should  persist  in  the  siege  until  fatigue  or  star- 
vation should  cause  me  to  succumb,  for  I  knew  that 
they  were  capable  of  prolonged  waiting,  their  nature 
being  so  vindictive  that  they  would  stay  for  days,  in 
order  to  gratify  their  rage.  Even  after  it  became  so 
dark  that  I  could  not  distinguish  their  forms,  I  could 
still  hear  them  lunging  at  one  another,  keeping  up 
their  vengeful  appetite  by  frequent  quarrels  among 
themselves,  and  clattering  their  tusks  like  castanets. 

I  did  not  dare  attempt  to  sleep,  and  to  prevent 
myself  from   falling  in  case  sleep  overcame  me,  I 


TREED   BY  WILD  PECCARIES. 


161 


passed  my  waist  belt  around  a  perpendicular  branch. 
Finally,  the  moon  came  out  of  the  clouds  and  looked 


Treed  by  peccaries. 

down  through  the  branches,  but  only  succeeded  in 
faintly  lighting  up  the  ground  below,  where  the  mov- 


162  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

ing  forms  were  converted  into  veritable  imps  of  dark- 
ness. 

How  slowly  those  night  hours  dragged  along! 
It  seemed  as  if  daylight  would  never  come ;  but  at 
last  it  appeared,  sweetly  heralded  by  the  twittering  of 
birds;  but  greeted,  too,  with  grunts  by  my  black 
jailers,  who  glanced  up  at  me  anxiously,  to  assure 
themselves  that  I  was  still  in  evidence. 

As  the  sun  rose  above  the  tree  tops  its  heat  soon 
dried  my  clothes ;  yet  still  I  sat  there,  cramped  and 
weary,  undecided  what  to  do,  but  revolving  many 
plans  for  escape.  A  sudden  disturbance  in  the  herd 
beneath  me  drew  my  attention.  The  peccaries  were 
all  facing  southward,  sniffing  the  air  suspiciously,  evi- 
dently startled.  Two  or  three  of  the  old  boars  started 
out  to  reconnoiter.  They  returned  in  a  few  minutes 
with  some  information,  apparently,  that  caused  every 
member  of  the  gang  to  gather  himself  up  on  his  feet 
as  if  electrified. 

Eagerly  turning  my  attention  in  the  direction 
toward  which  they  looked,  I  soon  heard  a  faint  noise, 
like  the  barking  of  a  dog ;  and  as  this  became  more 
distinct  the  peccaries  charged  nervously  hither  and 
thither,  grunting  at  each  other  in  great  alarm.  A 
dog,  of  course,  impUed  a  master.  I  shouted  and  fired 
off  my  gun ;  and  after  a  while  came  an  answering 
human  voice — the  first  I  had  heard  in  many  months 
— but  I  could  not  distinguish  the  words. 

Soon  after  the  crashing  of  bushes  and  branches 
announced  something  approaching,  and  I  shouted  out 
a  warning  of  the  danger  that  might  be  incurred  by 


TREED  BY   WILD  PECCARIES.  163 

advancing  incautiously.  My  warning  was  not  heeded, 
for  there  suddenly  burst  into  view  a  man  with  a  dog, 
on  the  cliff  above  me.  The  man,  who  saw  the  pec- 
caries ahnost  simultaneously  with  his  appearance,  lev- 
eled his  gun  and  fired.  At  the  same  time  the  dog 
barked  vociferously  ;  and  after  a  moment's  hesitation 
my  enemies  turned  tail  and  scurried  away.  It  must 
have  been  a  dreadful  disappointment  to  them,  after 
their  long  vigil,  but  they  didn't  wait  for  a  farewell. 

As  the  last  one  of  them  disappeared  in  the  forest 
gloom  I  realized  that  my  deliverance  had  come,  and 
tried  to  descend  from  my  perch.  This,  however,  I 
found  impossible  without  the  assistance  of  my  deliv- 
erer, a  negro,  whose  kindly  black  face  was  the  most 
welcome  thing  I  had  seen  in  a  long  time.  He  made 
a  fire  and  a  cup  of  coffee  for  me,  while  I  was  striving 
to  regain  the  use  of  my  limbs  ;  and  as  soon  as  I  was 
able  to  walk,  guided  me  to  camp,  which  we  reached 
without  further  adventure. 

My  companion  did  his  best  to  cheer  me,  but  my 
reflections  on  the  way  home  were  not  at  all  consola- 
tory, for  I  felt  the  humiliation  of  the  affair  and  that 
my  dignity  as  a  man,  hitherto  sole  monarch  of  this 
realm,  had  been  compromised.  Still,  there  was  no 
blinking  the  fact :  I  had  been  treed  by  "  wild  hogs." 
The  hunter  had  been  hunted  ;  the  doctor  treated  to  a 
taste  of  his  own  medicine.  I  could  not,  after  all,  but 
acknowledge  the  justice  of  it,  and  would  not  have 
minded  a  small  dose  of  my  own  medicine  ;  but  this 
had  been  a  bolus,  when  a  mere  pill  might  have  suf- 
ficed. 


164  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

It  was  with  a  certain  sort  of  grim  satisfaction  that 
I  recalled  how  Crusoe  had  taken  to  a  tree,  the  very  first 
night  he  was  on  shore  after  his  shipwreck.  But  his 
was  a  voluntary  treeing,  while  mine  was  compulsory  ; 
for  he  says  :  .  .  .  "  All  the  Remedy  that  offer'd  to  my 
thoughts  at  that  Time  was  to  get  up  into  a  thick  bushy 
Tree,  like  a  Firr,  but  thorny,  which  grew  near  me,  and 
where  I  resolv'd  to  sit  all  Night,  and  consider  next 
Day  what  death  I  should  dye ;  for  as  yet  I  saw  no 
prospect  of  Life." 

He  wouldn't  have  done  it  if  I  could  have  been 
there  to  tell  him  about  the  ants,  the  centipedes,  the 
pestiferous  insects  generally,  that  inhabit  such  a  tree 
in  the  tropics,  and  do  their  best  to  make  miserable  any 
one  invading  their  domain  ! 

Experience  was  his  teacher  as  well  as  mine,  how- 
ever, and  I  can  vouch  for  the  truth  of  his  words  when  . 
he  says  :  "  I  learnt  also  this  in  particular  :  that  being 
abroad  in  the  rainy  Season  was  the  most  pernicious 
Thing  for  my  Health  that  could  be."  It  certainly  was 
for  mine,  as  the  next  chapter  will  show. 


CHAPTEE  XVIII. 

JIMCRA.CK   AND    THE   JUMBIES. 

Prostrate  with  fever — Providence  sends  a  nurse — A  mystery  ex- 
plained— My  parrot's  early  life — A  case  of  original  sin — A 
bird  of  great  sagacity — A  believer  in  witchcraft — How  the 
King  of  the  Woods  scared  Sara  well  Jones — Who  stole  the 
eggs? 

I  HAD  occasion  to  prove  the  correctness  of  Cru- 
soe's observation  upon  the  danger  of  being  abroad  in 
the  rainy  season  during  the  week  that  follovs^ed  my 
adventure  vs^ith  the  peccaries,  for  a  tormenting  fever 
laid  hold  on  me,  racking  my  joints  and  consuming  my 
strength. 

Then  I  had  cause  for  thankfulness  to  Providence 
in  sending  me  such  a  deliverer  as  came  in  the  person 
of  my  black  friend,  who  not  only  had  rescued  me  from 
the  wild  hogs,  but  attended  me  assiduously  through- 
out the  progress  of  the  disease.  That  Tobago  fever 
is  one  of  the  worst  of  the  diseases  with  which  the 
islands  of  the  West  Indies  are  afflicted,  being  painful 
and  acute,  and  never  leaving  its  victims  altogether 
without  a  change  of  climate. 

Reaching  my  house  with  difficulty  near  the  close 
of  the  day  following  my  encounter,  I  was  assisted  by 
my  new  friend  to  my  hammock,  only  to  sink  into  de- 

1G5 


16G  CRUSOE^S  ISLAND. 

lirium,  leaving  to  him  the  care  of  all  mj  possessions, 
including  myself.  It  was  three  days  later  that  I  re- 
covered full  consciousness  of  my  surroundings,  and 
another  day  had  passed  before  I  could  summon 
strength  enough  to  inquire  as  to  events  subsequent  to 
my  attack. 

Then  I  found  myself  lying  upon  a  comfortable  cot 
which  my  man  had  improvised  for  the  time  and  occa- 
sion, making  a  rough  frame  and  filling  a  sack  of  can- 
vas with  husks  from  the  maize. 

Noting  my  look  of  astonishment  as  I  felt  along  the 
mattress  and  my  evident  approval,  he  hastened  to  ex- 
plain :  "  Yo'  see,  sah,  de  hamak,  him  bery  crooked, 
an'  you  git  all  double  up,  an'  when  you  toss  about  an' 
trow  yo'  ahms  round,  like  yo'  don't  rest,  me  tink  um 
bed  much  better  fo'  yo',  sah." 

I  thanked  him  with  my  eyes,  feeling  grateful,  in- 
deed, for  this  evidence  of  thoughtfulness,  and  he  pro- 
ceeded :  "  Yo'  see,  sah,  me  took  um  liberty  of  staying 
heah  till  yo'  recob'ry,  sah,  becose  yo'  not  able  to  care 
for  yo'sef ;  but  when  yo'  well  'nougli  to  dispense  wiv 
ma  services,  me  seek  um  house  at  tudder  end  ob 
island,  sah." 

"  No,  no,"  I  whispered,  "  don't  hasten  away,  un- 
less you  have  to  go.  I  have  another  hut  you  can  oc- 
cupy, and  we  can  find  provisions  enough  to  last  us 
some  time  yet." 

"  Yes,  massa,  me  see  um  tudder  hut,  down  by  de 
sho'  of  what  dey  call  um  '  Man-o'-Wah  Bay  ' ;  an'  it 
fine  place  fo'  ole  man  Ned  ;  me  hab  no  'casion  to  go, 
massa,  an'  wiv  yo'  permishun  me  stop  wiv  yo'  little 


JIMCRACK  AND  THE  JUMBIES.  167 

while.  But,  don'  yo'  talk  too  much,  massa  ;  drink  dis 
ar'root  gruel  me  mak  fo'  yo',  an'  go  sleep  ag'in." 

After  that  rational  refreshment  and  a  nap  I  was 
ready  to  take  a  short  walk  about  the  house,  and  I 
noted  with  delight  how  neat  it  was,  and  the  many 
little  touches  my  "Friday"  had  given  to  the  rooms, 
showing  a  refined  nature  and  good  breeding. 

He  was  a  man  past  middle  age,  with  bent  and  shriv- 
eled form,  gray  kinky  hair,  and  a  shrewd  and  wrinkled 
face.  He  was  a  native  of  the  island,  never  having 
been  beyond  its  shores ;  had  been  born  a  slave,  but 
was  freed  in  the  EngHsh  emancipation,  and  had  always 
hved,  until  recently,  at  the  "  great  house  "  of  his  for- 
mer master,  on  a  plantation,  where  he  occupied  the 
post  of  major-domo,  having  general  charge  of  all  do- 
mestic affairs. 

His  old  master  had  died  about  ten  years  before, 
the  plantation  went  into  the  hands  of  some  London 
merchants  on  account  of  debts  incurred  by  its  man- 
agers, and  he  was  set  adrift,  having  accumulated  noth- 
ing during  his  long  years  of  servitude,  but  having  a 
local  reputation  for  honor  and  faithfulness  that  served 
him  well  for  a  time  among  the  few  planters  left  on  the 
island. 

Of  late  he  had  made  a  scant  living  by  shooting 
birds  for  the  feather  dealers  in  Trinidad,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  had  roamed  the  forests  in  search  of  high- 
colored  birds  for  the  feather  market.  He  had  taught 
himself  the  art  of  taxidermy,  and  I  found  him  quite 
expert  at  the  skinning  of  birds,  but  an  affliction  which 
caused  his  hands  to  tremble  violently  made  the  work 


168  CRUSOE^S  ISLAND. 

slow  and  difficult.  Seeing  that  I  noticed  this,  he  ex- 
plained that  it  was  a  judgment  on  him  for  pursuing 
the  calling  that  he  did  and  for  killing  small  birds  by 
compressing  their  lungs  ;  for  when  a  small  bird  falls 
wounded,  in  order  to  kill  it  the  collector  takes  it  be- 
tween his  thumb  and  finger  and  presses  the  sides  un- 
der the  wings,  where  the  lungs  are  situated  ;  thus  it 
is  suffocated  and  dies  in  the  hand,  gasping  and  flut- 
tering. 

It  was  my  man's  firm  belief  that  the  fluttering 
birds  had  communicated  their  convulsions  to  his  own 
person,  and  that  he  would  suffer  for  this  sin  till  his 
dying  day.  I  would  not  gainsay  this,  for  I  was  not  in 
sympathy  with  the  bird  hunters  ;  but  I  found  his  ac- 
quirements very  useful  to  me,  and  sought  to  teach  him 
to  discriminate  between  tlie  wanton  killing  of  birds 
for  mere  pleasure  and  ornament  and  collecting  for  the 
purposes  of  science.  He  was  intelligent  enough  to 
note  this  difference  and  deferential  enough  to  accept 
my  dictum ;  but  he  urged  that  he  had  as  good  a  right 
to  shoot  the  birds  for  a  living  as  any  one  had  to  stock 
a  museum. 

And  in  truth,  I  could  not  say  that  he  had  not,  hav- 
ing my  own  doubts  about  the  pretensions  of  so-called 
scientific  men,  who  shoot  hundreds  and  thousands  of 
innocent  birds,  merely  to  determine  a  point  of  differ- 
ence in  nomenclature  or  some  specific  differentiation. 
At  any  rate  the  birds  don't  know  any  difference, 
whether  they  be  martyrs  to  science  or  to  fashion ! 

My  new  friend  and  servant  was  all  that  one  could 
have  wished — quiet,  cleanly,  deferential,  intelligent, 


JIMCRACK  AND  THE  JUMBIES.  169 

intuitively  perceptive  of  my  wishes,  and  desirous  of 
serving  me  by  day  and  by  night. 

He  was  greatly  concerned  about  my  health,  and, 
finding  him  expert  in  nursing  and  a  master  in  the  art 
of  simples  and  native  remedies  for  fever,  I  resigned 
myself  unreservedly  into  his  charge.  The  quinine 
the  mate  had  given  me  as  I  left  the  vessel  now  came 
into  use,  but  his  strong  reliance  was  in  a  decoction  of 
herbs,  administered  every  few  hours,  which  broke  the 
fever  and  eventually  cured  me.  Finding  some  wild 
limes  in  the  woods,  he  made  me  drink  freely  of  an 
infusion,  and  rubbed  me  down  every  night  with  rum 
and  lime  leaves,  finally  bringing  me  out  well,  and 
rapidly  regaining  my  strength,  at  the  end  of  a  week. 

That  was  a  week  of  happy  surprises,  and  the  first 
one  cleared  up  a  mystery.  We  were  conversing  in 
my  doorway  one  day  about  dusk,  when  I  heard  a 
flutter  of  wings  and  a  chatter  of  parrot  voices,  which 
told  me  that  Polly  Psittacus  had  returned  from  a  pro- 
tracted visit  somewhere  with  his  mate.  I  thought  he 
would,  of  course,  fly  directly  to  me  and  tell  me  all 
about  his  trip,  as  usual  with  him  after  a  long  absence  ; 
but  instead,  to  my  great  astonishment,  he  landed  on 
Friday's  shoulder  with  a  loud  shriek  of  "  Ned,  Ned, 
hullo  Ned  !  "  ignoring  me  entirely. 

Friday  was  more  than  astonished,  he  was  terrified. 
"  Goodness,  massa,  wha'  dis  a  bud  come  from  ? "  he 
ejaculated.  "  'Clar  to  gracious  if  it  ain't  old  '  Jim- 
crack,'  who  useter  lib  wiv  us  at  '  Betsy's  Hope '  fo' 
mo'n  twenty  year." 

Polly  was  so  delighted  that  he  seemed  unable  to 
13 


170  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

express  his  pleasure  by  means  of  ordinary  demonstra- 
tions, but  tweaked  his  friend's  ears,  crawled  all  over 
his  arms  and  shoulders,  and  bobbed  his  head  aflBrma- 
tively  at  all  he  said.  "Ned  sahe  Jimcrack,  po'  ole 
Jimcrack  ;  Jimcrack  want  a  drink,  ha,  ha,  ha  !  " 

"  Da's  de  same  sho'-nuff  ole  Jimcrack  ;  dat's  what 
he  useter  say  to  me  ebery  mawnin',  puched  on  de 
back  ob  ole  massa's  cha'r.  But  wha'  he  come  from  ? 
How  you  ketch  dis  ole  raskil,  sah  ? " 

I  then  told  him  of  the  capture  of  Psittacus,  our 
companionship,  and  of  my  surprise  at  his  linguistic 
acquirements. 

"  Well,  sah,  dis  prove  to  me  dat  de  Lawd's  ban's 
am  in  dis  all.  Who  sen'  Jimcrack  to  you,  sah,  when 
you  is  all  alone  an'  need  somebuddy  to  convarse  wiv, 
sah?  Why,  de  Lawd!  He  know  what's  what;  he 
know  how  yo'  lose  de  use  er  yo'  tong  ef  yo'  don'  hab 
nobuddy  fo'  talk  wiv,  sah ;  he  take  mo'  pity  on  yo' 
dan  yo'  tek  on  yo'self,  sah ;  ef  yo'  pehmit  um  say  so 
who  ain't  no  desire  to  critumcise  yo'  acks,  sah.  But  de 
mystry  to  me  am  dis  :  Ef  de  Lawd  want  yo'  hab  com- 
pany, an'  de  Lawd  know  sho'  nuff  dat  yo'  need  good 
comp'ny,  wha'  fo'  he  sen'  such  ole  raskil  as  dis  Jim- 
crack ?  Massa,  he  de  raskilist  ole  bud  dat  eber  fly. 
He  fuller  ob  'rignal  sin  dan  a  aig  is  full  er  meat. 
Swar  !     Yo'  orter  heah  um  swar !  " 

"  Yo'  orter  heah  um  swar,"  chimed  in  Psittacus, 
who  had  been  a  delighted  listener,  and  who  nodded 
his  head  at  every  accomplishment  enumerated. 

"  Wha'  um  tell  yo',  massa,  am  de  truf,"  said  Fri- 
day, holding  up  his  hands  in  horror,  and  at  the  same 


JIMCRACK  AND  THE  JUMBIES.  171 

time  with  a  delighted  expression  on  his  wrinkled  fea- 
tures. "Dis  a  bud  ken  swar  en  fawty  langwidges, 
sah ;  he  ken  swar  en  Spanish,  an'  French,  an', 
an' " 

"  Orter  hear  um  swar,"  broke  in  the  bird  again, 
"  swar  in  Spanish — ha,  ha ! — caramba  !  old  black  son 
of  a  gun  !  " 

"  Yo'  heah  dat,  massa  ?  Wha'  um  tole  yuh  ?  Da 
ain'  no  use  tryin'  c'reck  him,  nuther ;  he  done  tawk 
dat  a  way  mor'n  twenty  yeah  ;  tawk  jes  so  when  ole 
massa  buy  him,  from  a  sailor  on  Spanish  Main ;  tawk 
lek  dat  when  ma  missus  die;  he  mos'  scandalumize 
de  pahson,  sah,  to  def. 

"  Lemme  discose  to  yo',  sah.  Dis  a  bud  he  nuffin' 
less'n  de  debil,  sah.  When  ma  missus  come  to  die, 
sah,  an'  de  pahson  arribe,  an'  de  serbants  all  aroun' 
a-snijfflin'  an'  a-cryin',  an'  de  room  full'n  frien's  so  yo' 
couldn'  see  across  it,  an'  de  air  all  stiflin',  an'  pore 
ole  missus  a-gaspin'  fer  bref — can  see  um  now,  mas- 
sa, jes  lek  et  was  yist'dy — den  wha'  yo'  tink  dis  a 
bud  done  do,  sah  ?  It  mus'  a  ben  de  debil,  sah,  put 
et  in  he  head ;  why,  sah,  he  done  puch  on  de  foot- 
bo'd,  an'  nobuddy  don't  see  him  dah,  an'  he  keep 
bery  quiet,  like  he  don'  wan'  nobuddy  see  um. 

"  An',  sah,  when  de  pahson  done  put  de  ques'ion : 
whereabouts  dis  good  woman  go  ef  she  die,  who  had 
ben  good  missus  all  her  life  an'  no  harm  nobuddy — 
when  de  pahson  say  dat,  up  hop  ole  Jimcrack  an' 
holler  out,  so  all  de  aujence  hear  um,  de  patois  fer 
go  to  de  bad  place,  sah !  Dey  don'  speak  it  in  dis  a 
island,  sah,  but  ober  en  Grenada,  what  de  French 


172  CRUSOE»S  ISLAND. 

useter  own.  When  ole  massa  hear  dat  all,  he  mek  fer 
dat  a  bud  wiv  a  stick,  an'  when  he  ketch  um,  sah,  he 
a'mos'  brek  he  bones,  an'  twis'  he  neck,  an'  trow  nm 
out  en  de  bushes  like  he  was  dead,  sah. 

"  Ef  de  debil  wan'  in  dat  a  bud,  sah,  he  never  re- 
cober  no  mo' ;  but  de  nex'  mawnin'  he  jes'  come 
a-hoppin'  inter  de  house,  sah,  an'  he  puch  on  de  back 
ob  de  char  lek  he  useter  always,  an'  he  pop  he  head 
on  de  one  side  an'  he  put  um  beak  on  de  bald  spot  on 
ole  massa's  head  an'  he  say,  ober  an'  ober  ag'in,  dat 
same  'spression,  an'  yo'  couldn'  mek  him  stop  ef  yo' 
was  to  kill  um  fer  it,  sah. 

"  Ole  massa  he  was  a-eatin'  he  brekfas',  but  he 
didn'  had  no  appertite,  an'  he  was  a-tryin'  ter  look 
solum  an'  onhappy,  fer  de  missus  had  libed  wiv  him 
more'  n  f awty  yeah,  sah  ;  an'  when  he  hear  da  bud 
he  jes  a  choke  an'  jump  up  an'  run  inter  de  smoke- 
house, an'  gib  way  ter  um  feelings  ;  an'  to  dis  a  day, 
sah,  um  tinks  ole  massa  was  a-laffin  more'n  he  was 
a-cryin' ! 

"  He  try  to  mek  up  to  Jimcrack,  but  it  wan'  no 
use ;  de  bud,  sah,  didn'  'pear  to  hab  no  hard  feelin' 
'ginst  him,  sah,  but  he  treat  him  in  distant,  hotty 
way  ;  but  um  see  'spression  in  um  eye  dat  neber  dar 
befo',  sah  ;  an'  when  my  ole  massa  die,  befo'  de  end  ob 
de  month,  sah,  de  brack  folks  tink  an'  say  dat  Jimcrack 
hab  done  put  jumbie  spell  on  him.  Yissir,  an'  when 
dey  done  lay  ole  massa  in  de  groun',  wha'  yo' 
tink  him  do  ?  Dat  same  bud  come  an'  puch  on  de 
grabe  an'  he  hoi'  he  head  down  to  de  groun'  an'  re- 
peat, sah,  dem  same  wuds  what   mek  old  massa  so 


JIMCRACK  AND  THE  JUMBIES.  173 

mad.  Fo'  truf ,  me  massa,  um  tink  dis  a  jumbie  bud  ; 
he  hab  ebil  sperit  in  um,  sho'. 

"  Yo'  see  um  look  at  me  now  ?  He  onderstan' 
ebry  word  um  say ;  ah,  ef  he  ain'  do  yo'  no  mischief, 
it  'cause  he  hab  some  reason  fer  it,  an'  not  'cause  he 
lub  yuh." 

Friday  sighed,  and  regarded  the  parrot  with  dis- 
may expressed  in  his  face.  But  the  bird  did  not 
mind ;  he  only  rubbed  his  beak  against  Friday's  ear, 
and  then  flew  outside,  where  his  mate  was  awaiting 
him. 

"  So  he  got  new  wife,  eh  ?  You  ole  Jimcrack, 
whar  yo'  pick  up  purty  parrot  like  a  dat  to  live  wiv 
yo'  ?  Yo'  goin'  leave  um  soon,  like  yo'  leave  yo'  mate 
on  de  ole  plantashum.  She  can't  talk,  but  um  un'stan' 
what  he  mind  ter  let  her.  Jimcrack  like  humans  in 
dat  respec' :  he  hab  two  langwidge,  one  for  he  wife 
an'  one  fer  de  world  in  gen'rul.  When  he  say  to  her, 
'  Ma  dear,  um  got  to  go  ter  hunt  ma  grub,  an'  it 
may  be  late  when  um  come  back,  so  don'  set  up,  ma 
dear,'  she  don'  know  whar  about  he  go  to." 

I  reassured  him  on  this  point,  and  narrated  how 
Psittacus  had  made  his  dwelling  in  the  palm  tree, 
raised  a  small  family  of  children,  foraged  for  the  fam- 
ily, and  in  all  respects  behaved  like  the  model  hus- 
band that  he  then  appeared  to  be. 

It  may  have  been  noticed  that  I  called  my  new 
friend  after  the  companion  of  Crusoe,  his  coming  to 
me  was  so  opportune,  and  he  had  so  many  of  the 
good  qualities  of  that  excellent  Carib.  The  name  in- 
advertently sUpped  out,  now  and  then,  when  I  ad- 


174  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

dressed  him,  and  he  always  corrected  me,  reminding 
me  that  he  had  been  christened  Thomas  Ned,  and 
was  known  all  over  the  island  as  "  Old  Ned." 

He  had  no  objection,  he  said,  to  being  called 
"  Friday,"  and  if  I  insisted  upon  it  he  would  adopt 
that  name  for  life ;  but  he  really  hoped  I  would  not, 
as  it  was  the  unlucky  day  of  the  week,  the  only  day 
which  he  feared  ;  and  even  after  I  had  explained 
who  the  original  Friday  was,  he  raised  the  question 
whether  it  was  complimentary  to  call  him  after  an 
ex-cannibal  and  ignorant  savage ! 

But  I  think  he  was  as  devoted  to  me  as  the  Indian 
was  to  Crusoe  :  "  He  was  now  gotten  over  his  Fright, 
and  he  was  very  cheerful,  and  told  me,  as  before,  he 
would  dye  when  I  bid  dye,"  etc.  So  I  felt  with  re- 
gard to  Ned  :  I  knew  I  could  trust  him,  even  to  the 
length  of  dying  for  me. 

He  could  not  write  his  name,  but  when  I  asked 
him  how  he  spelled  it,  he  said  he  didn't  know, 
but  tliere  was  "um  letter  M  in  it  somewhar."  I 
adopted  Polly  Psittacus's  fashion  of  addressing  him 
as  "  Mister  Ned,"  which  pleased  him  mightily ;  but 
he  never  ventured  on  such  familiarity  as  to  call  me 
anything  less  formal  than  Massa,  because,  as  he  said, 
I  was  his  master  now,  the  only  one  he  had,  and  the 
only  person  in  the  world  he  could  look  to  in  his  old 
age. 

I  can  not  say  that  I  relished  the  idea  of  sharing 
my  solitude  with  any  other  human  being  ;  but  when 
I  reflected  upon  the  service  he  had  rendered  me,  and 
how  my  life  was  in  a  measure  due  to  his  fortunate 


My  Man  Jj'riday,  Thomas  Ned. 
175 


176  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND.. 

arrival  in  the  nick  of  time,  and  his  assiduous  care 
while  I  was  sick,  I  became  reconciled  to  the  situ- 
ation. 

After  all,  his  was  not  an  intrusive  presence  ;  he 
made  no  claim  to  fellowship,  except  through  a  com- 
munity of  interests ;  he  was  grateful  for  my  atten- 
tion merely,  happy  in  my  presence,  and  delighted  to 
be  of  service  to  me.  It  was  but  natural  that  he 
should  look  to  me  for  the  future,  and  I  resolved 
that  he  should  not  come  to  want,  if  it  were  in  my 
power  to  prevent  it. 

After  my  convalescence  he  retired  to  the  hut  at 
the  bay  every  night  as  the  trade  winds  blew,  and  ap- 
peared again  at  sunrise,  sometimes  later,  at  which 
times  it  would  be  with  a  string  of  fish  which  he  had 
caught  from  the  rocks.  He  was  not  much  given  to 
bathing,  so  he  watched  on  the  beach  for  sharks,  while 
I  enjoyed  myself  in  security,  after  the  old  fashion  be- 
fore 1  had  been  frightened  by  the  sea  monsters.  He 
took  care  of  the  other  members  of  my  family,  know- 
ing better  than  I  what  their  special  preferences  were, 
and  they  all  thrived  wonderfully,  under  his  fostering 
attention. 

Although  he  had  passed  the  greater  portion  of  his 
latter  years  in  the  woods,  yet  he  was  full  of  fears  and 
superstitions.  I  don't  think  he  had  any  fear  of  personal 
violence  from  anything  that  he  could  see,  but  it  was 
of  the  spiritual  world  that  he  stood  in  awe.  The 
forest  was  peopled  with  spirits,  good  and  bad,  espe- 
cially bad ;  every  old  tree  with  hollow  trunk  held  its 
dryads,  its  "  jumbies,"  and  a  score  of  birds  were  only 


JIMCRACK  AND  THE  JUMBIES.  177 

the  visible  embodiments  of  departed  worthies  who 
had  lived  in  Tobago  in  the  past. 

"  Me  was  made  narvis  (nervous)  by  holdin'  de  bud 
en  um  han'  to  die,"  he  would  remark,  looking  mourn- 
fully at  his  shaking  fingers,  "  an'  all  de  wood  folks 
an'  de  jumbles  know  me  am  spotted  to  die  mase'f  by 
dat  bery  sign."  No  amount  of  argument  could  shake 
his  faith  in  the  jumbies,  for  he  was  a  direct  descend- 
ant of  an  African  slave,  who  had  brought  with  him 
to  these  islands  all  the  superstitions  of  the  Guinea 
coast,  all  the  fetishism  and  witchcraft. 

There  is  no  less  of  witchcraft  practiced  now  than 
in  the  early  days  of  slavery,  when  African  "  obeah- 
ism  "  was  at  its  height ;  and  Thomas  Ned,  good  man 
that  he  was,  and  local  preacher  that  he  had  sometimes 
been,  was  deeply  imbued  with  its  teachings.  His  par- 
ticular aversion  was  the  "  Ole  Boy,"  a  malignant  spirit 
that  roamed  the  woods,  and  whose  origin  is  given  in 
the  local  folklore  as  follows :  In  slavery  time  a  certain 
woman  had  in  her  charge  an  orphan  boy,  whom  she 
one  day  took  out  with  her  to  her  provision  ground, 
when  he  strayed  away  and  was  drowned  in  a  pond. 
He  was  found  and  buried,  but  as  the  distance  from 
town  was  great,  no  parson  attended  and  no  funeral 
service  was  read  over  his  grave.  As  a  consequence  of 
this  neglect,  his  soul  was  refused  admittance  into 
heaven  and  was  forced  to  return  to  earth,  where  it 
roams  about  uttering  a  melancholy  cry:  "Oh,  poor 
me,  lone  one,  oh  !  " 

"  Yes,  sah,  am  hab  seen  dis  bery  sperit,  massa ;  it 
take  shape  ob  big  gray  bud,  wiv  great  yeyes,  roun' 


178  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

an'  glassy,  an'  it  fly  saft,  sah,  saf t  as  silk,  in  de  moon- 
light, an'  it  cry  out  at  me,  sah :  '  Oh,  poor  me,  lone 
one,  oh ! '  an'  ma  ha'r  raise,  sah,  twell  I  get  out  ob 
de  wood.  Tell  yo',  sah,  lemme  said  to  yo',  sah,  ef 
yo'  wants  to  feel  dat  dey  is  jumbies  in  dese  wood,  yo' 
mus'  to  heah  dat  same  '  King  ob  de  Wood '  when  he 
hoot  in  some  dark  bailey. 

"  Ha !  so  yo'  hab  done  heah  him  ?  Yes,  me  massa, 
me  can  'member  dis  a  same  bud,  sah,  which  to  say, 
him  mek  um  feel  like  um  judgmun'  day  was  come, 
sah,  de  fus'  time  me  heah  um.  It  was  in  de  t'ick 
wood,  an'  me  come  to  a  bailey  'tween  two  high  moun- 
tain which  make  up;  ribbah  flow  'tween  um,  swif 
an'  dark;  all  trees  oberhead  make  um  black  like 
night. 

"  Lemme  discose  to  yo',  sah  :  dat  sight  make  um 
feel  like  little  chile ;  me  don'  hab  not'ing  only  ma 
gun;  no  dog,  not  one  'vidual  t'ing;  make  um  feel 
so  bad  ma  head  raise  (hair  rose  up),  an'  me  wish  um 
safe  out  um  dis  wood.  Well,  lemme  discose  to  yo' : 
me  feel  dat  me  mus'  do  sumt'ing,  an'  so  um  let  um 
gun  off — pam !  Dat  mek  um  sperit  recobah,  sah ;  but 
all  at  once  me  hear  um  King  ob  de  Wood,  '  Who  ? 
who?'  An'  me  t'ink,  'Who,  fo'  shua,  who  am  me 
who  'starb  dis  lonely  place  ?  De  good  God  A'mighty 
he  no  mek  um  t'ick  wood  fo'  ole  Tom  N'ed ;  he  mek 
um  fo'  King  ob  de  Wood  an'  sich  like  ! ' 

"  P'r'aps  yo'  neber  heah  ob  de  brack  boy  what  got 
scare  at  de  King  ob  de  Wood  ?  No  ?  Lemme  discose 
to  yo'.  He  was  a  bad  brack  boy,  sah,  an'  he  hab  been 
done  steal  some  chicken  an'  aig,  sah;  de  dark  fin' 


JIMCRACK  AND  THE  JUMBIES.  179 

him  some  way  from  he  house,  an'  he  hurry  frou  at  he 
bes'  lick. 

"  All  sudden  like  a  solum  voice  hoot  in  he  year : 
'  Who  ?  who  you  ? '  He  a'mos'  fall  down,  he  so 
frighten.     But  he  say,  '  Me  Samwell  Jones,  sah.' 

"  De  sperit  mek  no  reply  to  he  answer,  only  say 
'gin,  '  Who  ?  who  you  ? ' 

"  De  boy  ha'r  stan'  up,  an'  he  say,  '  Samwell  Jones, 
sah,  goin'  home,  sah,  good  massa.' 

"  Nex'  time  de  voice  right  ober  he  head,  '  Who  ? 
who  you  ? '  an'  sound  lak  it  come  from  some  deep  and 
dismal  grabe.  De  boy  drap  he  aigs  an'  run  tro'  de 
wood  a-hoppin'.  'Me  ain'  done  stole  no  aigs,  good 
massa  ghos' ;  it  nudder  boy  wha'  come  'hin'  me ;  he 
de  one  stole  de  aigs,  massa  ghos' ! '  " 

"  Who  stole  de  aigs  ? "  cried  a  shrill  voice  over  our 
heads,  as  Thomas  Ned  concluded  his  story.  "  Ole 
Ned  stole  de  aigs !     Ole  nigger  Ned  stole  de  aigs ! " 

It  was  Psittacus,  of  course,  who  had  listened  to 
the  whole  narrative.  Thomas  Ned  rose  as  if  electri- 
fied, and  his  hands  quivered  as  he  shook  them  at  the 
audacious  bird,  leering  at  him  from  the  rafters  over- 
head. 

"  Massa,"  he  said,  "  me  don'  want  do  harm  to  any 
libin'  t'ing  in  dis  a  house  ;  but  it  do  seem  dat  it  mus' 
be  ne'ss'ry  to  twis'  dat  bud's  neck,  if  yo'  wan'  git  de 
debil  out  er  him.  He  done  know  altogedder  too 
much ;  a  little  knowledge  am  a  dang'rus  t'ing,  as  dat 
ole  raskil  done  fin'  out  some  time ! " 


CHAPTEK  XIX. 

THE    DEVOTION    OF   THOMAS   NED. 

"  My  Island  was  now  peopled,  and  I  thought  myself  rich  in 
Subjects ;  and  it  was  a  merry  Reflection  which  I  frequently  made 
— how  like  a  King  I  looked." — Crusoe. 

When  Thomas  Ned  first  came  before  me  in  the 
character  of  deliverer  I  did  not  closely  scrutinize  his 
appearance  or  apparel,  being  a  steadfast  believer  in 
that  old  proverb,  "  Never  look  a  gift  horse  in  the 
mouth."  But,  when  he  proposed  to  remain  with  me 
as  a  servant  and  "  Man  Friday,"  I  felt  it  my  duty  to 
have  an  eye  to  his  vesture,  as  one  bound  to  responsi- 
bility in  his  presentable  appearance.  It  was  more 
from  poverty  than  preference  that  he  was  ill  clad, 
and  despite  his  rags  he  did  not  appear  in  filthy  condi- 
tion. 

He  wore  a  shirt  so  very  ragged  that  it  hung  from 
his  shoulders  in  tatters  and  strings,  and  was  evidently 
assumed,  not  so  much  for  the  service  it  rendered  as  a 
shirt,  as  out  of  deference  to  the  demands  of  civiliza- 
tion. A  reminder  of  a  coat  strove  to  hide  the  inner 
garment,  but  was,  like  its  owner,  a  skeletonized  apol- 
ogy, mainly  consisting  of  detached  pockets,  filled  with 

180 


THE  DEVOTION  OF  THOMAS  NED.  181 

such  odds  and  ends  as  the  semi-savage  negro  delights 
to  conceal  about  his  person.  Trousers,  also,  in  the 
last  stages  of  senility,  through  which  the  legs  they 
made  a  pretense  of  incasing,  were  distinctly  visible 
in  numerous  places,  and  which  depended  from  an 
old  leather  belt  around  the  waist.  He  had  no  shoes, 
but  on  his  head  wore  a  hat  that  it  were  better  he  had 
left  in  the  ash  heap,  whence,  doubtless,  it  had  been 
abstracted. 

The  gun  he  carried  was  a  single-barrel,  body  and 
soul — that  is,  stock  and  barrel — being  held  together  by 
strings.  The  cur  that  trotted  after  and  looked  upon 
this  tatterdemalion  as  master  was  a  good  specimen  of 
the  genus  that  is  always  found  attached  to  the  black 
man  ;  he  had  many  good  points,  according  to  Thomas 
Ned,  but  it  was  beyond  my  power  to  discover  them. 

As  soon  as  I  had  sufficiently  recovered  to  assume 
command  in  the  cabin,  I  sent  man  and  dog  to  the  sea- 
shore, where  I  had  some  old  clothes  in  a  chest,  and,  after 
the  man  had  divested  himself  of  his  rags  and  taken  a 
bath  in  the  bay,  re-enforced  by  a  scrubbing  on  the 
sands,  1  gave  him  an  entirely  new  and  clean  suit  of 
linen  and  duck.  He  had  previously  buried  the  old 
ones,  but  not  without  evident  regrets,  almost  tearfully 
expressed,  and  had  subjected  the  dog  to  a  cleansing 
process ;  so  that  the  pair  appeared,  in  the  end,  com- 
pletely transformed. 

Neither  seemed  at  first  very  grateful  for  my  at- 
tentions, but  Thomas  soon  saw  the  wisdom  of  my 
work,  and,  like  Friday,  "  Mighty  well  was  he  pleas'd 
to  see  himself  almost  as  well  cloth'd  as  his  Master. 


182  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

He  went  awkwardly  in  these  Things  at  first ;  wear- 
ing the  Drawers  was  very  awkward  to  him,  and  the 
Sleaves  of  the  Jerkin  gall'd  his  Shoulders  and  the 
inside  of  his  Arms ;  but  he  soon  got  used  to  them." 

The  cur  was  the  most  indignant,  and  resented  the 
change  in  his  master's  apparel  by  growling  and  bark- 
ing at  him,  refusing  to  recognize  in  that  well-dressed 
man  in  white  the  quondam  Thomas  Ned.  "  Da  dawg 
done  know  dat  me  hab  no  right  to  dress  like  buckra 
man,"  said  the  transmogrified  Friday ;  "  da  dawg  got 
heap  ob  sense  ;  he  know  me  can't  shoot  de  bud  when 
me  go  'roun'  all  slick  up  in  da  white  close." 

I  saw  the  sense  of  his  remarks,  and  gave  him 
another  suit,  half  worn,  of  English  tweed,  which  he 
declared  more  in  keeping  with  his  character  as  serv- 
ant and  huntsman,  and  carefully  stored  away  the 
white  ones  for  Sunday  wear. 

While  we  were  at  the  beach,  Friday  gave  me  an 
exhibition  of  his  agility,  by  walking  up  a  cocoanut  tree 
and  gathering  nuts  enough  to  last  us  a  week  or  more. 
Yes,  he  walked  up ;  he  did  not  cHmb.  He  made  a 
loop  of  a  piece  of  rope,  passed  it  around  the  tree  and 
himself,  and,  bracing  himself  against  this  rope,  he 
went  up  with  ease.  The  tree  was  tall  and  the  bole 
very  straight  and  slippery,  yet  he  climbed  easily  until 
he  reached  the  lower  branches.  There  arrived,  he 
cast  off  the  loop,  drew  himself  up  over  the  great 
bunches  of  cocoanuts  and  spathes,  and  commenced  to 
hack  away  at  the  stems.  He  had  stuck  a  large  cutlass 
(a  machete)  in  his  belt,  and  as  he  ascended  he  pre- 
sented a  comical  sight,  the  machete  sticking  out  like 


THE  DEVOTION  OF   THOMAS  NED. 


183 


the  tail  of  a  monkey.     Out  of  the  respect  I  bear  to 
Thomas  Ned  I  will  not  pursue  this  simian  simile  fur- 


Gathering  cocoanuts. 


ther ;  but  he  wondered  long  why  I  fell  on  the  sand 
and  rolled  in  ecstasy  of  laughter. 

Having  thrown  down  a  lot  of  nuts,  he  descended 
quickly,  took  his  cutlass  in  hand  again,  and  clipped 
off  the  outer  husk  of  one  of  them,  trimming  it  to 


184  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

a  point  at  the  smaller  end,  and  then,  with  a  swift, 
dexterous  stroke,  cut  it  across,  leaving  a  small  hole. 
Through  this  I  drew  the  cool  liquid,  clear  and  sweet, 
which  fills  the  ivory  chamber  within,  in  quantity 
nearly  a  pint,  and  was  about  to  throw  the  empty  shell 
away,  when  he  caught  it,  with  one  blow  cleft  it  in 
twain,  and,  chipping  a  spoon  from  the  rind,  handed 
it  to  me  again,  that  I  might  scoop  out  the  translucent 
jelly,  which  is  considered  a  delicacy. 

Like  all  old  negroes  who  have  passed  their  lives 
in  the  shade  of  the  cocoa  palms,  Thomas  Ned  was  an 
adept  at  extracting  from  the  best  of  the  cocoanuts 
^heir  hidden  virtues,  and  well  merited  the  praise  I 
bestowed  upon  him  for  his  skillful  performance. 
Having  passed  the  better  part  of  his  life  in  the  serv- 
ice of  wealthy  planters,  he  knew  how  to  make  those 
insidious  beverages  which  serve  the  great  men  to  pass 
away  dull  time  in  the  tropics ;  and,  so  far  as  our 
limited  sideboard  afforded  the  ingredients,  he  gave 
me  the  proof  of  his  skill  as  a  concocter  of  drinks  to 
which,  in  my  solitude,  I  had  been  a  stranger. 

Thomas  Ned  was,  like  the  majority  of  the  blacks, 
very  abstemious,  and  would  not  even  partake  of  the 
beverages  he  prepared,  except  on  unusual  occasions ; 
his  chief  delight  seemed  to  be  in  their  concocting,  as 
evidence  of  his  honorable  position  in  ancient  times, 
when  he  was  the  plantation  butler.  He  took  the  old 
retainer's  delight  in  seeing  his  master  enjoy  the  good 
things  of  life,  even  if  he  himself  abstained;  and  I 
could  not  deny  him  such  vicarious  pleasure,  although 
I  felt  constrained  to  check  his  desire  to  hasten  me  on 


THE  DEVOTION  OF   THOMAS  NED.  185 

a  bibulous  career,  whicLi  might  have  landed  me  in 
a  drunkard's  grave,  long  ere  this  chronicle  was  con- 
cluded. Assuming,  as  he  did,  that  I  was  a  gentle- 
man, and  therefore  incapable  of  a  vulgar  lapsing 
into  inebriety,  he  could  not  understand  tlie  meaning 
of  my  persistent  refusal,  except  on  tbe  score  of  econ- 
omy. 

In  one  of  our  long  rambles  we  discovered  a  hidden 
valley  which  showed  evidences  of  former  cultivation, 
and  held  a  grove  of  wild  fruit  trees,  or  which,  as 
Thomas  said,  had  "  done  turn  Injun  " — relapsed  into 
a  state  of  savagery.  "  I  saw  here  abundance  of  Cocoa 
Trees,  Orange  and  Lemon  and  Citron  Trees  ;  but  all 
wild,  and  very  few  bearing  any  Fruit ;  at  least,  not 
then."  Among  them,  also,  we  found  some  cashew 
trees,  bearing  a  strange  fruit,  called  here  the  acajou^ 
which  I  think  is  the  Indian  name.  The  fruit  is  of 
the  shape  of  a  pear,  fragrant  and  full  of  juice,  with 
the  seed  or  stone  hanging  on  the  outside,  in  the  shape 
of  a  kidney  bean.  We  secured  a  large  quantity  of 
this  fruit,  and  when  we  got  home  Thomas  roasted  the 
nuts,  which  were  delicious,  and  at  night  he  brewed 
another  beverage,  which  he  called  "  cashew  drink," 
and  insisted  upon  my  tasting. 

The  drink  I  found  most  refreshing  was  limeade, 
from  the  fruit  of  the  lime,  the  juice  mixed  with  water 
and  sweetened  with  sugar,  particularly  during  the 
period  of  my  convalescence,  which  was  protracted 
during  many  weeks.  One  morning  my  Friday  came 
up  the  hill  in  great  glee,  bearing  an  armful  of  sticks 
with  pronged  ends,  and  stripped  of  their  bark.  "  Look 
14 


186  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

a  da,  ma  massa,  see  de  swizzle-stick  me  fin'  down  by 
da  pon'."  These  sticks  were  slender  and  straight, 
each  one  with  four  or  five  prongs  at  the  end,  at  right 
angles  to  the  stem,  and  from  their  peculiar  shape 
they  are  used  as  egg-beaters  and  mixers  of  beverages. 
They  create,  even  in  plain  drinks,  a  peculiar  froth, 
owing  to  the  mucilaginous  or  saponaceous  quality  of 
the  cambium  layer  covering  the  wood. 

From  what  I  have  said,  it  will  be  seen  that  Thomas 
Ned  had  installed  himself  as  butler  in  my  establish- 
ment ;  and  if  it  has  not  already  transpired  that  he  was 
in  reality  the  chief  in  charge  and  the  major-domo, 
I  will  set  at  rest  all  doubt  and  declare  that  he  had 
usurped  every  function  pertaining  to  the  domestic 
economy  of  the  household. 

It  was  as  chef^  however,  that  he  shone  resplendent ; 
from  the  very  first  he  regarded  my  array  of  shining 
culinary  utensils  as  his  particular  property,  nor  would 
he  ever  allow  me  to  go  near  the  kitchen  under  any 
pretext. 

"  Da  kitchum  ain'  no  place  fo'  genlemun  like  yo', 
sail ;  it  am  de  mos'  mysteriumest  t'ing  dat  yo'  ain' 
done  kill  yo'se'f ,  a-cookin'  all  by  yo'se'f ;  ef  yo'  ain' 
got  'spepsy  it  am  a  dispenshun  ob  Prov'dence.  But 
me  know  how  to  cook  ef  um  don'  know  an'ting  else." 
And  he  did.  Thomas  Ned  never  boasted,  but  he  had 
a  fair  knowledge  of  his  abilities ;  which,  after  all,  is 
better  than  knowing  too  much,  or  knowing  "a  great 
deal  and  at  the  same  time  not  being  aware  of  it.  It 
was  his  delight,  it  was  his  glorious  privilege,  to  solve 
the  daily-recurring  problem  of  not  only  what  we  should 


THE  DEVOTION   OF  THOMAS   NED.  187 

have  to  eat,  but  what  we  should  have  diflEerent  from 
the  day  before  ! 

My  stores  were  scanty,  as  I  have  ah-eady  men- 
tioned, before  he  invaded  my  premises;  but  there 
was  no  diminution  in  them  after  his  arrival ;  on  the 
contrary,  they  positively  increased.  The  flour  was 
low  in  the  barrel,  but  he  augmented  it  by  farine 
from  the  cassava  root ;  he  hunted  out  the  wild  yam 
and  the  yeddo,  and  knew  to  a  day  the  ripening  of  the 
tubers  under  ground,  no  matter  how  they  were  con- 
cealed from  human  perception ;  he  grated  the  cocoa- 
nut,  and  made  from  its  meat  delicious  pies  and  pud- 
dings ;  he  walked  the  beach  for  turtles,  and  we  feasted 
on  eggs  and  turtle  steaks  until  that  variety  of  food 
palled  upon  us ;  he  knew  the  best  spots  on  the  rocks 
from  which  to  cast  his  line  for  fish ;  the  holes  in  the 
stream  where  lurked  the  fattest  crayfish,  and  the  holes 
in  the  earth  in  which  lived  the  finest  land  crabs ;  in 
short,  he  taught  me  that  the  earth  could  be  made  to 
yield  a  fatness  of  which  I  had  never  dreamed. 

And  Thomas  Ned  knew  many  things  also  which 
I  did  not.  For  instance,  he  knew  how  to  lull  the 
fierce-looking  iguana  to  sleep  and  capture  him.  When 
he  told  me  this  I  was  at  first  incredulous,  but  he 
proved  his  statement  by  doing  it. 

We  found  a  big  iguana,  one  day,  feeding  on  the 
leaves  of  a  mangrove  tree.  When  the  animal  saw  us 
coming  it  swelled  out  its  gular  sack,  raised  the  spines 
along  its  back,  and  looked  fiercer  than  ever.  But 
Thomas  Ned  began  whistling  a  tune,  at  the  same 
time  cutting  down  a  "  lialine "  vine,  with  which  he 


188  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

made  a  slip  noose.  Louder  and  louder  he  whistled, 
and  finally  the  iguana's  head  drooped  and  it  lay  su- 
pinely along  the  branch.  Then,  still  whistling,  my 
"  Friday "  softly  approached  and  slipped  the  noose 
over  the  reptile's  head.  It  then  awoke,  of  course, 
and  lashed  out  wildly  with  its  terrible  tail  ;  but  too 
late,  for  that  night  we  had  some  of  that  same  tail 
cooked  for  our  supper. 

I  was  in  danger  of  lapsing  into  a  condition  preju- 
dicial to  the  success  of  my  projects ;  of  becoming  soft 
and  sybaritical,  Thomas  Ned  so  adequately  supplied 
my  wants  and  anticipated  my  every  need.  To  offset 
this  luxurious  living  I  hunted  all  the  harder,  taking 
longer  walks,  and  ransacking  the  farthest  limit  of  my 
domain.  When  I  returned,  weary  and  sore,  Thomas 
Ned  awaited  me  with  a  cooling  drink,  and  later  set 
before  me  a  dish  that  he  had  been,  perhaps,  all  the 
day  conceiving  and  contriving.  He  insisted,  also, 
upon  doing  all  the  taxidermical  work  while  I  was 
away,  or  while  I  wrote  out  my  descriptions  of  our 
captures ;  thus  1  was  allowed  more  time  in  which  to 
perform  the  higher  duties  of  my  life,  and  devote  my- 
self to  my  books  and  the  chronicling  of  these,  my 
daily  doings. 

It  was  a  delightful  division  of  labor,  in  which 
Thomas  Ned  did  all  the  dirty  work,  and  left  me  free 
for  something  more  to  my  liking !  Conscience  and  I 
had  a  wrestle  on  that  subject  and  several  "  set-tos " 
before  convinced  that  it  was  all  the  better  for  all  con- 
cerned, I  urging  that  it  was  of  his  own  volition  that 
he  undertook  this  labor,  that  he  was  getting  fat  on  it, 


189 


190  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

and  was  happy  as  a  king ;  in  fact,  happier  than  the 
average  of  kings,  and  wouldn't  swap  situations  with 
the  best  of  them.  He  had  been  born  to  work,  and  I 
had  not ;  he  liked  work,  no  matter  of  what  kind,  as  he 
couldn't  discriminate,  while  I  had  my  decided  prefer- 
ences ;  and,  finally,  if  ever  a  man  born  a  stranger  to 
another,  without  obligations  to  that  other,  ever  loved 
that  other  more  than  Thomas  Ned  loved  me,  then  all 
the  signs  were  at  fault ! 

We  had  never  raised  the  question  of  compensa- 
tion ;  but,  as  he  was  a  self -a  vowed  pauper,  and  had 
not  been  able  to  accumulate  anything  in  fifty  years 
or  so  of  work  ;  whereas  he  was  now  reveling  in  com- 
parative luxury,  clothed  and  clean,  I  did  not  have 
any  compunctions  on  that  score.  And  besides,  if  it 
should  come  about  that  I  should  leave  the  island — 
an  unwelcome  suggestion  which  I  never  entertained 
without  a  shudder — of  course  Thomas  Ned  would 
then  fall  into  my  possessions  as  residuary  legatee,  so 
to  speak.  But  not  the  shadow  of  such  suggestion 
ever  entered  his  honest  old  brain ;  he  was  serving  me 
loyally  and  happily,  wholly  from  choice,  and  had  at 
last,  after  years  of  rude  buffeting,  fallen  into  the  very 
place  his  soul  had  craved  all  his  life. 

It  was  a  pleasure  to  watch  his  enjoyment,  his  per-  - 
feet  trust  in  the  rectitude  of  things,  the  ease  and  natu- 
ralness with  which  he  went  about  his  self-imposed 
labors.  His  chief  delight  was  in  smoking,  and,  as  I 
had  a  small  stock  of  tobacco,  and  cared  little  for  the 
weed  except  in  ruminative  moments,  I  abandoned  it 
all  to  him ;  added  to  this,  he  made  a  find  of  the 


THE  DEVOTION   OF  THOMAS  NED.  191 

tobacco  plant  growing  wild  somewhere,  and  no  miser 
e^er  watched  his  gold  as  Thomas  Ned  did  his  hoarded 
supply  and  the  prospective  "smokes"  on  the  stalk. 
The  rains  fell,  and  the  sun  came  out  after  the  show- 
ers ;  the  nights  succeeded  the  days,  and  it  was  all  the 
same  to  us,  for  we  were  busy  and  happy,  each  with 
his  own  employ. 

It  followed  as  a  matter  of  course,  after  the  advent 
of  Thomas  Ned,  that  he  took  charge  of  my  planta- 
tion and  assisted  materially  in  the  agricultural  opera- 
tions, and  latterly  I  had  left  the  management  of  the 
garden  chiefly  to  him,  because  of  his  special  knowl- 
edge of  the  native  plants  and  their  culture.  He  had, 
indeed,  manifested  a  desire  to  have  me  keep  away 
from  the  garden,  which  I  thought  strange,  but  attrib- 
uted to  nothing  more  than  a  natural  desire  to  take 
sole  charge  of  a  work  in  which  he  particularly  de- 
lighted. But  one  evening,  as  we  were  strolling 
through  the  garden,  and  noting  with  pleasure  what 
great  advancement  the  various  plants  had  made,  I 
came  across  something  that  made  me  turn  upon  my 
man  Friday  with  a  demand  for  an  explanation.  It 
was  nothing  more  than  a  stick  stuck  up  slantwise  in 
the  center  of  the  garden,  and  dangling  from  the  top 
a  strange  assortment  of  "trash,"  such  as  a  parrot's 
head,  a  red  rag,  a  halfpenny,  and  a  small  bag  of 
rice. 

I  knew  at  first  glance  what  this  stuff  signified  :  it 
was  an  Oheah  cha/rm^  such  as  the  African  wizards  use, 
to  put  a  spell  upon  their  enemies.  This  witchcraft 
of  Obeah,  a  survival  of  the  African  serpent  worship. 


192 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


is  strong  throughout  the  West  Indies,  and  in  fact 
wherever  the  negro  lives  isolated  from  the  influence 
of  the  white  race. 

I  turned  upon  Thomas  with  a  severe  countenance, 
and  he,  abashed,  hung  down  his  head.  "Don'  tek 
dat  a-cha'm  to  mean  nuffin',  massa,  fo'  it  am  necuss'ry 


An  Obeah  cluinii. 


to  pertect  de  gyarden.  Lemme  discose  to  yo',  sah, 
dat  um  hab  seen  de  footfalls  ob  a  man  on  de  sand, 
sah  ;  um  don'  tell  yo',  fo'  don'  want  alarm  yo',  massa; 
but  dat  is  de  truf .     Yis,  sah,  it  am  de  truf ;  an'  um 


THE  DEVOTION  OF  THOMAS  NED.  193 

know  dat  a  man  done  steal  all  de  provision,  ef  um 
don'  put  up  Obeah  cha'm.  Fo'  truf,  massa,  ef  um 
don'  let  dat  a  man  know  dat  um  hab  cha'm  'ginst  him, 
he  done  run  way  wiv  ebry tings  we  hab ;  now  he  know 
it  ain'  no  use,  an'  he  done  run  way  hisse'f.  Massa, 
um  hab  ben  locus  (local)  preacher  mahse'f,  an'  um 
good  Wes'lyun ;  but  lemme  discose  to  yo',  sah,  dat 
dey  is  t'ings  dat  de  buckra  gospel  can'  mek  head 
aginst,  noway,  an'  de  chiefest  t'ing  am  dis  same 
Obeah ;  an'  de  splanashun  am  jes  dis :  de  buckra 
'ligion  am  God's  'ligion,  but  de  Obeah  am  de  debil's 
'ligion,  so  holp  me  truf !  " 


CHAPTER  XX. 

A    VISIT   TO   THE    WORLD    OUTSIDE. 

A  state  of  blissful  content — We  visit  the  old  plantation — Scar- 
borough, the  capital  of  Tobago— Entertained  by  the  "  Queen's 
Own  "  and  the  Governor — A  glimpse  of  Trinidad — At  Golden 
Grove — The  schooner  on  a  coral  reef — Corroboration  of  Cru- 
soe's story — The  cave  where  Crusoe  found  the  "  old  He-Goat  " 
— Where  the  cannibals  landed,  and  where  Man  Friday  was 
discovered. 

It  may  be  supposed  that  Man  Friday  and  myself 
had  frequent  conversations  regarding  the  resources  and 
the  people  of  the  island  on  which  I  was  camped,  and 
canvassed  thoroughly  the  advisability  of  inspecting 
the  portion  which  was  then  unknown  to  me.  Like 
myself,  Thomas  Ned  shrank  from  any  movement 
that  would  make  known  to  the  residents  of  the  south - 
em  end  of  the  island  our  whereabouts ;  not  from  any 
feeling  of  unsociability,  but  from  a  natural  desire  to 
remain  undiscovered.  We  had  attained  to  that  state 
of  blissful  contentment,  of  perfect  satisfaction  with 
our  surroundings,  that  permitted  of  no  intrusion  with- 
out a  threatened  disruption  of  the  conditions  creating 
them. 

We  had  both  been  so  often  buileted  by  ill  for- 
tune, had  received  so  many  kicks   and   cuffs   from 

194 


A  VISIT  TO  THE  WORLD  OUTSIDE.  195 

society,  and  so  many  rude  receptions  in  our  endeavors 
to  maintain  ourselves  as  corporate  members  of  the 
body  politic,  that  no  amount  of  persuasion  could  in- 
duce us  to  enter  it  again.  Waifs  from  the  outer  edge 
of  the  world,  we  had  been  cast  into  an  eddy  of  cahn 
by  the  very  currents  that  threatened  our  destruction, 
and  we  saw  in  this  the  hand  of  an  overruling  Provi- 
dence. 

My  companion  was  truly  alarmed  when  he  found 
that  I  even  gave  heed  to  the  thought  of  an  experi- 
mental visit  to  the  confines  of  the  outer  world. 
"Wha'  fo'  yo'  done  wan'  fool  wiv  dose  people, 
massa  ?  Ain'  yo'  see  da  fingah  ob  de  good  Gora- 
mighty  in  all  dis  yar  ?  Ain'  he  done  gib  yo'  all  yo' 
want,  mo'  dan  yo'  need,  an'  powerful  sight  mo'  dan 
yo'  desarve  ? "  His  lip  quivered,  his  whole  frame 
shook  with  emotion,  and  I  could  understand  and 
sympathize  with  him.  For  more  than  fifty  years  he 
had  been  the  sport  of  adverse  circumstances ;  he  had 
been  every  man's  slave  and  no  man's  care.  Accept- 
ing his  lot,  as  he  had,  with  all  the  dumb  forbearance 
belonging  to  his  race,  yet  he  had  felt  the  cruelty,  the 
unfairness  of  it  all ! 

After  those  weary  years  of  slavery,  after  the  last 
hope  had  been  drowned  in  despair,  unexpectedly  there 
had  come  to  him  this  deliverance  from  servitude. 
His  soul  was  glad  with  the  assurance  that  his  declin- 
ing years  might  be  passed  in  a  haven  of  rest,  and  his 
one  desire  was  that  nothing  should  occur  to  interrupt 
this  serenity.  But  he  was  deeply  grateful  to  me  for 
having  given  him  even  these  few  months'  surcease 


196  CRUSOES  ISLAND. 

from  care,  and  his  loyalty  to  me  and  belief  in  my  in- 
fallibility kept  him  from  more  than  raising  a  shadow 
of  objection.  He  was  certain  that  an  absence  from 
our  home  would  work  disaster  to  our  schemes,  by 
directing  upon  us  an  irruption  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  other  section,  who  would  annoy  us  in  many  ways 
and  finally  compel  us  to  abandon  the  place. 

I  entertained  every  reason  for  delay  and  carefully 
weighed  all  objections  ;  but  finally,  about  midsum- 
mer, after  the  rains  had  spent  their  force,  I  concluded 
to  set  out  on  the  journey  of  exploration.  It  was  not 
as  if  we  were  going  into  an  unknown  region,  for 
Thomas  Ned  knew  every  foot  of  the  way,  and  our 
perturbation  over  the  possible  consequences  of  such  a 
small  undertaking  may  cause  a  smile  on  the  face  of 
the  reader. 

But  it  is  ever  thus :  when  a  man  narrows  his 
horizon  and  secludes  himself  from  his  fellow-men,  he 
is  thrown  in  upon  himself,  his  thoughts  dwell  upon 
the  little  things  of  life,  rather  than  upon  the  greater 
works  of  human  hands.  It  was  in  the  correction  of 
this  tendency,  which  I  had  latterly  noted  in  myself 
with  alarm,  that  I  felt  the  journey  would  be  beneficial. 

Well,  after  everything  had  been  arranged,  the 
captive  agoutis  and  other  animals  set  free,  and  Polly 
Psitticus  had  been  informed  that  he  was  to  keep  a 
general  oversight  of  the  premises,  we  set  out,  one  fine 
morning  in  July.  It  was  agreed  that  we  would  not 
go  direct  to  the  coast,  but  avoid  the  negro  villages 
and  make  for  the  plantation  upon  which  Thomas  Ned 
had  passed  his  early  years.     As  it  was  now  in  posses- 


A  VISIT  TO   THE  WORLD  OUTSIDE.  197 

sion  of  a  very  worthy  man,  one  whom  Friday  felt  he 
could  trust,  and  who  would  not  betray  our  plans  nor 
inform  any  one  of  our  residence,  we  were  safe  in 
venturing  that  far,  and  if  anything  occurred  to  excite 
suspicion  we  could  retreat  upon  our  base  of  opera- 
tions again,  without  it  becoming  known  that  we  were 
abroad. 

The  scheme,  which  was  Friday's  own,  worked 
beautifully.  The  second  morning  we  were  snugly 
domiciled  beneath  the  roof  of  the  "  great  house,"  and 
the  manager,  a  big-hearted  and  stalwart  Scotchman, 
was  listening  to  my  story  and  laughing  heartily  at 
our  adventures.  I  should  like  to  narrate  my  sensa- 
tions at  again  meeting  one  of  my  own  race  after  so 
many  months  of  seclusion ;  but  events  now  crowd 
upon  me  so,  hastening  to  a  conclusion,  that  this  will 
be  impossible. 

Our  friend  and  host  promised  to  keep  my  secret, 
and,  being  a  man  of  intelligence,  with  generous  im- 
pulses, did  not  more  than  laugh  at  my  scheme ;  but  he 
would  not  allow  me  to  depart  at  once  on  my  way  to 
the  southern  end  of  the  island,  and  we  passed  three 
days  with  him,  all  the  time  entertained  like  visiting 
princes  from  abroad.  He  insisted,  of  course,  upon 
an  unabridged  narration  of  my  adventure,  and  at  its 
close  congratulated  me  upon  securing  such  a  treasure 
as  I  possessed  in  the  person  of  Thomas  Ned,  who  had 
assumed  his  old  position  as  butler  and  attendant  ^o 
tern.,  and  waited  on  us  assiduously. 

The  "  great  house  "  was  situated  in  the  center  of  a 
broad,  spacious  valley,  with  the  sea  in  front,  the  hill 


198  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

ou  which  the  house  was  perched  being  some  two 
hundred  feet  in  height,  and  with  low  ridges  radiat- 
ing in  all  directions  from  it  to  circumferential  hills. 
Straight  down  to  the  sea,  a  mile  away,  ran  a  road, 
lined  on  both  sides  with  the  huts  of  the  laborers, 
with  a  stray  palm  here  and  there  and  a  long  row 
near  the  beach,  which  evidenced  the  former  existence 
of  that  overarching  avenue,  of  which  its  former 
owner  so  proudly  wrote,  over  one  hundred  years 
ago,  when  this  estate  was  called  the  "  Louis  d'Or," 
and  the  slaves  were  counted  by  hundreds.  Great 
fields  of  cane  were  on  every  side,  with  varying  tints 
of  gold,  and  through  them  ran  a  river  from  the 
mountains,  the  hills  above  being  cultivated  to  their 
very  tops.  Tliousands  of  cocoa  trees  lined  the  beach, 
and  a  small  drogher  was  lading  with  nuts,  to  be  taken 
to  Barbados. 

The  distance  to  my  destination  was  not  great,  but 
the  time  consumed  in  getting  there  was  usually  two 
days,  and  to  cover  it  the  manager  loaned  me  a  mule, 
while  Thomas  Ked  awaited  ray  return  at  the  planta- 
tion. My  object  was  to  view  the  southern  end  of  the 
island,  where  the  outlook  was  over  toward  Trinidad, 
as  that  was  an  important  piece  of  evidence  in  favor 
of  this  being  the  one-time  residence  of  Robinson 
Crusoe.  The  manager  assured  me  that  it  was  just  as 
related  in  the  book,  and  that  I  might  as  well  save 
myself  the  journey,  for  he  himself  had  been  inter- 
ested in  the  subject,  and  had  made  his  own  observa- 
tions, which  confirmed  the  statement  of  Crusoe  in 
every  particular. 


A  VISIT   TO   THE  WORLD  OUTSIDE.  199 

To  look  through  the  spectacles  of  others  was 
never  my  way ;  and,  thanking  him  for  liis  advice, 
and  for  the  mule,  I  accepted  the  latter,  and  cantered 
away,  leaving  Thomas  Ned  waving  me  an  adieu  from 
the  front  veranda.  Along  the  curves  of  beautiful 
beaches  and  through  the  sweets  of  a  sugar-cane  wil- 
derness I  rode  all  that  day,  and  finally  arrived  at  the 
only  town  on  the  island,  called  Scarborough.  Of  itself 
this  town  has  nothing  to  interest,  but  Nature  has  done 
the  best  it  could  to  cover  the  wounds  inflicted  by  man, 
and  the  miserable  houses  of  which  it  is  composed  are 
for  the  most  part  hidden  in  groves  of  tropic  trees. "^ 

Having  a  note  of  introduction  to  an  officer  of  the 
Queen's  regiment,  quartered  on  the  hill  above  the 
town,  I  was  there  received  with  hospitality — for  which 
all  English  officers  are  noted  throughout  the  world — 
and  allowed  to  rest  for  the  night.  From  the  fort 
above  the  town  the  view  is  superb,  for  the  hills  march 
down  from  the  interior  mountains  in  serried  ranks, 
dipping  here  and  there  into  dells  and  hollows,  rounded 
into  knolls  and  mounds,  the  only  sharp  outlines  being 
those  of  the  highest  against  the  sky. 

In  the  landscape  spread  out  before  one  here  copse- 
wood  and  cane  land  hold  about  equal  sway;  wind- 
mills and  cocoa  palms  (most  of  the  former  decapi- 
tated, and  the  leaves  of  the  latter  wildly  beating  the 
air  in  the  breeze  of  afternoon,  or  hanging  motionless 
in  the  calm  of  morning)  are  the  most  striking  fea- 
tures in  this  wilderness  of  sugar  cane.     A  windmill, 

*  See  frontispiece. 


200  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

the  tower  a  truncate  cone  of  stone,  spread  its  four 
great  arras,  like  a  Greek  cross,  above  a  smooth,  green, 
and  luxuriant  field.  Wide-spreading  tamarinds  of 
finest  green,  broad,  round-headed  mangos  of  deeper 
green,  grow  out  of  the  fields,  and  suggest  coolness 
and  shade,  despite  the  tropic  heat. 

But  the  most  conspicuous  tree,  as  it  is  the  most 
graceful,  is  the  cocoa  palm,  which  lines  the  roads  and 
lanes,  springing  up  singly  and  in  groups  all  over  this 
fair  landscape.  Its  columns  sweep  along  the  beach 
below,  the  grandest  curve  imaginable,  stretching  from 
the  base  of  the  hill  on  which  the  town  is  built  to  the 
extreme  point  of  coral  rock  many  miles  away.  Above 
the  beach  the  palms  lean  in  every  direction,  crossing 
and  recrossing  the  coast  road,  and  hang  above  the  yel- 
low sand  in  such  profusion  that  only  now  and  then 
can  be  obtained  glimpses  of  the  humble  huts  that 
cluster  beneath  their  shade. 

The  outlines  of  Trinidad  can  here  be  seen,  stretch- 
ing along  the  southwestern  horizon ;  some  days  it  is 
green,  with  tlje  colors  of  the  cane  fields  distinctly  visi- 
ble ;  at  which  time,  when  it  shows  so  clearly,  there  is 
reason  to  fear  the  coming  of  rain,  for  when  it  is  clear 
to  leeward,  it  is  generally  misty  to  windward,  and  as 
a  consequence  rainy. 

This  island  is  visible  from  the  heights  above  Scar- 
borough, as  Crusoe  himself  describes :  "  And  the 
Land  which  I  perceived  to  the  West  and  West  South- 
west, was  the  great  Island  of  Trinidad,  on  the  North 
Point  of  the  Mouth  of  the  River  Oroonoque." 

The  curve  of  the  bay  is  at  the  right  of  the  town, 


A  VISIT   TO   THE   WORLD   OUTSIDE.  201 

looking  toward  the'  sea,  wliere  a  small  stream  crawls 
lazily  over  the  sands,  and  the  beach  crooks  like  a 
scimitar  around  to  Crown  Point,  some  five  miles 
away,  smooth  and  hard,  at  low  water,  lined  with 
cocoa  palms  and  sea  grapes.  At  its  southern  ex- 
tremity, where  the  island  ends  in  a  coral  reef,  at  the 
time  of  my  observation,  sat,  bolt  upright,  the  hull  of 
a  stranded  schooner. 

Accepting  an  invitation  of  the  surveyor-general 
of  Tobago,  who  sent  me  a  horse,  I  galloped  out  to  the 
Point  one  morning  over  the  smooth,  hard  beach.  The 
singing  of  the  birds  in  the  sea-grape  thickets  and  the 
fragrance  of  the  flowers  there  intertangled  and  car- 
peting the  fields,  made  this  canter  one  of  the  memo- 
rable outings  of  my  life.  Suddenly  darting  away  from 
the  smooth  racecourse  on  the  beach,  my  steed  bore  me 
through  a  hedge-lined  lane,  where  his  muffled  hoof- 
beats  caused  the  birds  to  scatter  in  every  direction, 
leaving  in  the  air  fragmentary  gushes  of  song  as  de- 
lightful as  the  melody  of  our  own  song  sparrow  in 
the  North  in  the  opening  hours  of  an  April  morning. 
The  lane  lost  itself,  finally,  becoming  merged  in  a 
number  of  other  tracks,  and  then  the  estate  of  "  Golden 
Grove "  lay  before  me,  a  level  tract  of  several  hun- 
dred acres,  smooth  as  a  floor  and  treeless,  save  for  a 
few  gigantic  tamarinds  and  mangos  and  a  littoral 
fringe  of  cocoa  palms  where  it  bordered  on  the  beaclh^ 

In  the  center  of  this  verdant  plain  stood  a  fine 
large  mansion,  in  the  best  style  of  old  West -Indian 
architecture,  with  broad  verandas  spread  out  invit- 
ingly on  every  side.  Here  I  was  met  by  the  proprie- 
15 


202  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

tor,  who  had  his  horse  ready  saddled,  and  together  we 
went  over  to  the  Point,  after  a  short  stay  and  a  hineh- 
eon,  three  miles  farther,  where  lay,  or  rather  sat,  a 
stranded  schooner,  called  the  "  Jane  Milloy."  A 
large  crowd  of  Tobagans  had  gathered  there  to  pur- 
chase the  spars  and  rigging  of  the  abandoned  vessel, 
which  some  fortunate  individual  bought  for  fifty 
pounds — far  less  than  the  copper  on  her  bottom  was 
worth. 

At  the  wreckage  sale  I  met  many  interesting 
people,  among  them  a  local  botanist  and  naturalist, 
who  called  my  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  inter- 
stices of  the  coral  rock  were  filled  with  pure  asplial- 
tum,  similar  to  that  found  in  the  celebrated  Pitch 
Lake  of  Trinidad.  As  the  two  islands  are  here  but 
twenty  miles  apart,  and  as  this  is  on  the  extreme 
southern  point  nearest  to  Trinidad,  it  is  more  than 
possible  that  there  may  be  some  intimate  connection 
beneath  the  sea. 

The  coral  reef  is  here  visible  a  long  distance  from 
the  shore,  and  yet  the  "  Jane  Milloy "  was  firmly 
cradled  on  the  broad  reef,  less  than  two  hundred 
yards  from  the  beach  of  sand,  in  water  so  shallow 
that  boys  were  wading  out  to  her  all  the  afternoon. 
It  was  a  matter  of  wonder  how  she  got  there  at  all, 
so  close  to  the  shore.  Her  master  said  that  he  mis- 
took for  the  harbor  light  the  torch  flame  of  some 
men  out  fire-fishing,  that  stormy  night  in  which  his 
vessel  went  ashore. 

A  striking  peculiarity  of  the  southern  shore  of 
Tobago  is  the  extreme  shallowness  of  the  water,  where 


A   VISIT   TO  THE  WORLD  OUTSIDE.  203 

in  some  places  one  may  wade  two  or  three  miles  from 
the  beach.  My  readers  will  recall  Crusoe's  vivid  de- 
scription of  this  shallow  sea ;  and  more  forcibly  than 
ever  came  to  me  the  truthfulness  of  his  narrative  and 
the  accuracy  of  Defoe's  description  and  fullness  of 
his  knowledge  when  I  saw  sitting  before  me  this  ves- 
sel upright  on  the  reef !  It  was,  you  will  remember, 
after  Crusoe's  crew  had  given  the  ship  up  for  lost,  and 
were  driving  before  the  tempest  upon  an  unknown 
coast,  as  quoted  in  my  opening  chapter : 

"  The  Wave  that  came  upon  me  again  buried  me 
at  once  thirty  or  forty  Foot  deep  in  its  own  Body,  and 
I  could  feel  myself  carri'd  with  a  mighty  Force  and 
Swiftness  towards  the  Shore,  a  very  great  Way ;  but  I 
held  my  Breath,  and  assisted  myself  to  swim  forward 
with  all  my  Might.  1  was  ready  to  burst  with  hold- 
ing my  Breath,  when,  as  I  felt  myself  rising  up,  so, 
to  my  immediate  EeUef ,  I  found  my  Head  and  Hands 
shooting  above  the  Water.  ...  I  strook  forward 
against  the  return  of  the  Waves,  and  felt  Ground 
again  with  my  Feet.  I  stood  still  a  few  Moments  to 
recover  Breath,  and  till  the  Water  went  from  me,  and 
then  took  to  my  Heels,  and  run,  with  what  Strength  I 
had,  farther  towards  the  Shore.  But  neither  would 
this  deliver  me  from  the  Fury  of  the  Sea,  which  came 
pouring  after  me  again,  and  twice  more  I  was  lifted 
up  by  the  Waves,  and  carri'd  forward  as  before,  the 
Shore  being  very  flat." 

Once  safe  on  shore  he  fell  down  and  gave  thanks 
for  his  miraculous  deliverance,  but  wondered  that  there 
should  be  no  one  saved  but  himself :  ''  For,  as  for  my 


204  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

Companions,  I  never  saw  them  afterwards,  nor  any 
Sign  of  them,  except  three  of  their  Plats,  one  Cap, 
and  two  Shoes  that  were  not  Fellows."  And  the  next 
morning:  "I  cast  my  Eyes  to  the  stranded  Vessel, 
where  the  Beach  and  the  Froth  of  the  Sea  being  so 
big  that  I  could  hardly  see  it,  it  lay  so  far  off,  and 
considered :  '  Lord,  how  was  it  possible  I  could  get  on 
Shore  ? '  .  .  .  But  that  which  surpris'd  me  most  was, 
that  the  Ship  was  lifted  up  in  the  Night,  from  the 
Place  where  She  lay,  by  the  swelling  of  the  Tyde,  and 
was  driven  f ar  up !  .  .  .  This  being  vrithin  a  Mile  of 
the  Shore  where  I  was,  and  the  Ship  seeming  to  stand 
upright  still,  I  wish'd  myself  on  Board,  that  I  might 
have  some  necessary  Things  for  use ;  and  a  little  after 
Noon  I  found  the  Sea  so  calm  and  the  Tyde  ebb'd  so 
far  out,  that  I  could  come  within  a  quarter  of  a  Mile 
of  the  Ship  ...  so  I  puU'd  off  my  Cloathes,  for  the 
Weather  was  hot  to  extremity,  and  took  to  the 
Water." 

Then  followed  his  plundering  of  the  ship  and 
his  subsequent  adventures ;  but  I  cite  this  much  only 
in  confirmation  of  the  correctness  of  the  narrative,  as 
shown  in  the  local  features  of  the  locality  in  which  the 
wreck  is  assumed  to  have  occurred.  The  stranding 
of  the  "  Jane  Milloy  "  was  wholly  fortuitous  in  its  cor- 
roboration of  the  correctness  of  the  story ;  but  it  was 
an  event  that  actually  occurred,  in  April,  1878,  and  I 
am  constrained  to  cite  it  to  prove  the  verity  of  my 
own  narration.  It  happened  also  while  I  was  in  the 
island  of  Tobago,  as  may  be  verified  by  reference  to 
the  records  of  the  local  government. 


n.lruroe  l.kviiu'- his  OooJ.s  out  oF^^^er^J^^fiipV/'/././..^,^ 

(From  the  third  edition  of  Crusoe.) 

"  The  ship  secminof  to  stand  upright." 

20o 


206  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

Another  confirmatory  fact  is,  that  at  the  head  of 
Crown  Point  is  a  cave,  known  as  ''  Crusoe's  Cave  "  to 
this  day,  because  of  the  tradition  tliat  Crusoe  resided 
there.  What  he  himself  says  about  it  may  be  here 
recalled :  "  The  Place  I  was  in  was  as  delightful  a 
Cavity  or  Grotto  of  its  kind  as  could  be  expected, 
although  perfectly  dark."  It  was  here  that  he  found 
that  old  "  He-Goat,"  whose  eyes  glared  at  him  so 
through  the  darkness,  and  made  him  shiver  with 
fright. 

It  was  on  one  side  of  and  near  Crown  Point  that 
Crusoe's  ship  was  stranded  ;  not  many  miles  distant 
that  he  built  his  castle,  with  its  cave  attachment ; 
and  in  the  hills  beyond  that  he  had  his  "  Bower." 
But  the  place  where  he  first  saw  the  cannibals,  where 
he  discovered  Friday,  and  where  the  Indians  used  to 
land,  coming  over  from  Trinidad,  is  a  few  miles  dis- 
tant, to  the  north.  It  is'  called  Courland  Bay,  and 
here  the  Indians  dwelt— as  evidenced  by  the  many 
stone  axes  and  arrowheads  discovered  here — where 
the  rounded  hills  slope  gently  to  the  shore,  where  the 
coral  ledges  inclose  delightful  bathing  places,  and  the 
waves  lap  quietly  the  yellow  sands. 

Having  secured  the  confirmation  I  sought— that 
the  landing  place  of  our  hero  was  at  or  near  this 
point,  at  the  southern  end  of  the  island — my  mission 
was  accomplished ;  I  mounted  my  mule  again  and  de- 
parted for  the  plantation.  Previous  to  my  departure, 
however,  the  Governor  of  Tobago,  at  that  time,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Frederick  Gore  (now  deceased),  invited 


A  VISIT  TO  THE   WORLD  OUTSIDE. 


207 


me  to  dinner,  where  toasts  were  proposed,  not  only  to 
the  Queen,  but  to  the  President  of  the  United  States. 
I  was  then  permitted  to  depart,  no  one  knowing  whence 
I  came  or  whither  I  went— only  that  my  ostensible 
destination  was  eastward. 


!<  I 


Alan-o'-war  Bay. 


CHAPTEK  XXI. 

THE  FATNESS  OF  THE  EARTH. 

An  old  library— Crown  land  for  Thomas  Ned — A  home  for  my 
man  in  his  old  age — A  suspicious  intruder — A  new  delicacy 
— Frog's  legs  on  toast — Crapaud  hunting — Manacous  and 
armadillos— A  fetich-protected  American — The  hurricane. 

The  manager  at  the  "great  house"  insisted  upon- 
my  stopping  with  him  a  month,  but  we  compromised 
on  a  week,  although  tlie  temptations  to  stay  were 
strong  and  numerous.  In  the  first  place,  he  had  a  fine 
old  library,  or  the  remains  of  one,  such  as  the  planters 
of  the  West  Indies,  in  the  rich  and  careless  days  of 
slavery  times,  used  to  order  from  London,  giving 
their  agents  carte  hlanche  as  to  contents,  but  insisting 
on  rich  bindings  and  classical  authors.  Among  tlie 
superabundant  poets  and  novelists,  however,  I  found 
some  books  on  the  history  of  the  islands,  and  was 
particularly  attracted  by  a  manuscript  volume  refer- 
ring to  the  natural  history  of  the  West  Indies.  It 
need  not  detract  from  the  merit  of  this  work,  I  trust, 
if  I  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  this  manuscript, 
which  I  have  drawn  upon  for  many  names  and  de- 
scriptions of  the  birds,  as  given  in  the  previous  pages. 

208 


THE  FATNESS  OF  THE  EARTH.  209 

Buried  to  the  eyes  in  dusty  papers  and  musty 
tomes,  a  week  passed  me  by  very  pleasantly ;  but  at 
last,  yielding  to  the  force  of  Thomas  Ned's  sugges- 
tions, that  our  interests  at  the  Hilltop  demanded  our 
return,  I  reluctantly  started. 

The  manager  would  have  loaded  us  down  with 
gifts,  but  we  accepted  no  more  than  a  few  necessities, 
and  one  morning  at  dawn  were  at  the  edge  of  the 
forest  belt  again,  headed  for  Hilltop.  The  resident 
negroes  on  the  estate  were  very  curious,  and  some  of 
them  may  have  followed  us  to  ascertain  our  retreat ; 
but  if  they  did  we  were  not  cognizant  of  it  at  the 
time,  and  the  manager  prevented  them  from  actual 
intrusion. 

He  kindly  settled  my  fears  as  to  the  tenure  I 
might  have  acquired  to  the  land,  by  assuring  me  that 
it  was  all  crown  land,  in  that  section,  and  that,  so 
long  as  I  committed  no  actual  depredations,  no  one 
could  dispossess  me.  The  wild  lands  of  all  the 
islands  belonged  to  the  Government,  and  are  kno^vn 
as  crown  property,  being  open  to  acquisition  and  set- 
tlement on  easy  terms.  As  an  American,  and  an 
alien,  of  course  I  could  not  acquire  a  title  without 
long  residence  or  purchase  ;  but,  if  I  chose  to  assign 
whatever  rights  I  might  have  acquired  to  Thomas 
Ned,  that  individual  could  retain  the  property  under 
the  squatter  privileges. 

The  manager,  who  respected  the  old  man  and  was 
glad  to  find  that  he  had  a  friend  interested  in  his  wel- 
fare, offered  to  procure  the  proper  papers  if  I  would 
assume  the  small  expense  incurred,  by  which  the  land 


210  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

about  Hilltop  and  Seaside  would  be  secured  to  him. 
This  I  gladly  promised,  and  it  was  in  a  very  happy 
frame  of  mind  that  we  parted  from  our  friend  and 
took  to  the  woods  again.  We  slept  that  night  at  the 
cave  where  the  peccaries  had  treed  me,  and  the  next 
day  reached  our  hut  on  the  hill. 

Everything  was  apparently  as  we  had  left  it ;  but 
Polly  Psittacus,  after  wild  demonstrations  of  dehght 
at  our  return,  waddled  up  in  front  of  me  and  said, 
bobbing  his  head  with  great  solemnity  :  "  Man  here ; 
bad  man  here ! "  This  set  Thomas  Ned  to  looking 
about,  and  he  soon  coniirmed  Polly's  statement  by 
ocular  evidence. 

''  It  am  fac',  sho  'nuff ;  somebuddy  been  hyar 
while  we  gone ;  um  see  um  track  'bout  de  house." 

"  What  um  tell  you  ? "  screamed  Polly  Psit- 
tacus. "  Bad  man ;  black  man,  same  Thomas 
Ned." 

Friday  ignored  this  aspersion,  but  he  made  a  pouit 
in  favor  of  his  cherished  superstition :  "  Massa,  ef 
yo'  only  let  um  put  jumbie  cha'm  on  de  do',  den 
no  brack  nigger  come  nigh  dat  do',  dat  um  tell 
you ! " 

There  was  nothing  missing,  so  far  as  we  could 
ascertain  ;  but  it  was  evident  that  some  one  had  been 
prowling  about,  probably  with  sinister  motive,  and  so 
I  told  Thomas  Ned  that  if  he  thought  he  could  ade- 
quately protect  us  and  our  property  by  the  use  of 
jumbie  charms,  he  was  welcome  to  hang  up  as  many 
as  he  pleased.  And  thus  it  came  about,  before  sun- 
set that  day,  that  I,  an  American  and  a  Christian,  had 


THE  FATNESS  OF  THE  EARTH.      211 

invoked  the  fetich  of  an  African  pagan  to  protect 
my  property ! 

It  was  with  such  a  thrill  of  satisfaction,  that  even- 
ing, that  I  settled  into  my  old  familiar  seat  on  the 
veranda  and  gazed  off  over  the  beautiful  landscape  ! 
This  was  now  the  one  spot  on  earth  to  me ;  there 
was  none  other  like  it,  either  for  rest  or  happiness. 
As  for  Thomas  Ned,  his  face  shone  with  delight, 
his  eyes  dilated  with  wonder,  that  the  good  Lord  had 
permitted  two  mortals  like  ourselves  to  "  slice  off  so 
much  ob  happiness  and  tote  it  off  yer  inter  de  wil'er- 
ness  all  toe  ourselfs." 

You  see,  it  didn't  take  much  to  satisfy  us  ;  or,  in 
other  words,  we  knew  what  we  wanted,  and  were 
content  when  we  had  secured  it.  Or,  to  quote  once 
more  the  philosophical  Crusoe :  "  In  a  Word,  the 
nature  and  experience  of  Things  dictated  to  me, 
upon  just  Reflection,  that  all  the  good  Things  of  this 
World  are  no  farther  good  to  us  than  that  they  are 
for  our  use ;  and  that  whatever  we  may  heap  up  to 
give  others,  we  enjoy  just  as  much  as  we  can  use, 
and  no  more !  " 

Thomas  ]S"ed  surpassed  himself,  at  the  second  day's 
dinner.  He  confessed  to  me  that  he  had  been  all  the 
night  before  engaged  in  scouring  the  forest  after  a 
certain  delicacy  which  he  thought  it  contained  and 
that  I  would  like.  What  it  was  he  would  not  say, 
but  his  wan  appearance  in  the  morning  indicated  that 
he  had  passed  a  night  in  the  woods.  After  he  had 
Ferved  the  soup  that  afternoon  at  dinner,  he  brought 
in  a  covered  dish  from  the  kitchen  which  evidently 


212  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

contained  the  closely-guarded  treasure,  for  his  mouth 
worked  nervously  and  his  eyes  sparkled  with  anticipa- 
tory triumph. 

Removing  the  cover,  he  stood  back  to  enjoy  my 
surprise,  which  was  real,  and  my  praise,  which  was 
heartily  bestowed ;  for,  temptingly  disposed  on  slices 
of  crisp  brown  toast,  were  those  delicacies  so  sought 
by  the  gourmet  and  assiduously  hunted  by  the  French 
chef  when  he  wishes  to  crown  some  menu  with  glory 
— ^frog's  legs ! 

"  Um  tink  yo'  like  de  crapaud^  ma  massa,  an'  me 
hunt  all  de  night  fo'  um.  Him  berry  hard  to  fin', 
lemme  tell  yo'  ;  but  when  um  fin'  um  he  fat,  fat,  fat, 
like  yo'  see  um." 

The  crapaud^  or  great  frog,  lives  in  the  woods  in 
holes  out  of  sight,  coming  out  only  at  night,  and  to 
be  successfully  hunted  must  be  looked  for  by  torch- 
light. He  is  attracted  by  the  light  and  hops  toward 
it,  uttering  a  faint  squeak  at  the  same  time.  The 
hunter  picks  him  up  and  puts  him  in  a  bag,  and  then 
goes  on  for  another. 

"  Da'  same  crapaud,  sah,  him  bery  wise,"  said 
Thomas  Ned.  "  Yo'  neber  heah  'bout  de  men  what 
went  roun'  crapaud  huntin',  an'  done  pick  up  de  same 
old  crapaud  de  whole  night  t'rough?  No?  Well, 
den,  dey  was  two  men  went  out  one  night,  t'inkin' 
fo'  to  fill  um  bag  wiv  fine  fat  crapaud.  Dey  go  to 
local'ty  where  dey  plenty  crapaud,  an'  bimeby  one 
see  big  fellow,  he  grab  um,  put  um  in  bag,  an'  go 
on  ;  bimeby  hear  nudder  one  squak^  grab  um,  put 
he  in  bag,  go  on  ;  no  sooner  done  turn  roun'  befo' 


THE  FATNESS  OF  THE  EARTH.      21*3 

nudder  one  squak,  he  go  back,  grab  urn,  an'  put  uni 
in  bag ;  so  it  was  all  de  night  t'rougli,  twell  come 
daylight  dev  stop  to  count  up  what  dey  lin'.  An', 
massa,  wha'  yo'  t'ink  ?  Well,  sah,  dat  a  bag  done 
contain  nuttin'  'tall !  Dey  been  jes  a  piekiri'  up  de 
same  ole  crajpaicd  all  de  night  long !  How  it  hap- 
pen ?  Lemme  discose  to  yo' — dat  bag  done  hah  hole 
in  it !  " 

In  his  search  for  dainties  with  which  to  supply 
my  table,  Thomas  Ned  became  quite  a  nocturnal 
prowler,  and,  though  I  frequently  let  him  know  that 
his  actions  did  not  meet  my  approval,  sometimes  I 
went  with  him  in  order  to  gain  a  new  experience. 
The  native  opossum,  the  "  manacou,"  was  his  especial 
delight,  as  he  shared  with  all  his  fellow-blacks  their 
liking  for  its  flesh.  Not  having  that  fondness  for  the 
animal  myself,  either  as  a  living  organism  or  a  pro- 
spective cadaver,  I  always  abandoned  the  manacou  to 
Thomas's  particular  table. 

He  grew  fat  on  manacou  and  sweet  potatoes,  but 
he  did  not  relax  his  endeavors  to  keep  our  larder 
well  supplied  and  my  notebook  filled  with  items  of 
interest.  It  was  not  long  before  the  "  youp  "  of  the 
manacou  ceased  to  be  heard  around  the  Hilltop,  and 
i  we  might  have  kept  a  coop  of  fowls  without  fear  of 
its  deadly  depredations. 

And  this  occurred  also  to  Thomas  Ned,  for  one 
week  after  being  absent  during  the  space  of  three 
days  he  returned  with  a  fine  large  cock  and  two  hens, 
w^hich  he  placed  in  a  coop  behind  the  house.  They 
were  the  gift  of  our  good  friend  at  the  great  house, 


214  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

who  sent  a  kind  message  of  greeting  and  the  prelimi- 
nary papers  for  the  acquisition  of  the  property. 

1  never  knew  before  what  a  companionable  bird 
the  domestic  fowl  could  be,  nor  how  necessary  to 
one's  comfort  in  a  situation  similar  to  mine.  Chanti- 
cleer woke  us  early  every  morning,  to  be  sure ;  but 
our  mornings  were  made  for  enjoyment  in  those  days, 
and  we  held  it  to  his  credit  rather  than  his  blame. 
His  clear  crow  of  defiance  provoked  replies  from  the 
wild  and  wary  cockerricos  in  the  treetops  of  the  for- 
est below,  and  the  morning  air  would  ring  with  their 
challenge  and  counter  challenge.  Eggs  and  chickens 
followed  in  due  succession,  and  thus  a  lively  element 
was  introduced  into  the  domestic  life  at  Hilltop. 

By  refraining  from  discharging  our  guns  on  or 
near  the  hill,  and  by  encouraging  all  the  birds  about 
to  come  to  us  for  food,  we  soon  had  quite  a  flock  of 
dependents,  in  the  trees  and  under  the  eaves.  A 
wood  pigeon  established  herself,  with  her  mate,  in 
one  of  the  palms,  and  there  built  a  nest  and  reared 
her  young ;  and  each  family  that  once  came  here, 
like  hers,  became  the  nucleus  for  a  little  settlement 
of  its  kind.  Under  my  eaves  also,  which  was  now 
become  a  haven  of  refuge  for  weak  and  persecuted 
birds  of  all  kinds,  a  northern  swallow  made  its  winter 
home,  bringing  with  it  home  memories  and  the  asso- 
ciations of  my  boyhood. 

Tender  thoughts  these  birds  evoked,  each  one 
appealing  to  me  in  a  different  way.  They  became 
my  companions,  trusted  me,  even  appealed  to  me  to 
arbitrate  their  disputed  cases ;  as  when  one  took  a 


THE  FATNESS  OF  THE  EARTH.      215 

fine  long  thread  for  its  nest  which  another  wanted, 
and  in  which  the  wings  of  both  became  entangled. 
By  mutual  consent,  apparently,  they  fell  at  my  feet 
and  waited  patiently  for  me  to  disentangle  them,  each 
one  receiving  and  flying  thankfully  away  with  the 
half  that  I  gave  it ! 

One  of  the  nocturnal  animals  frequently  disturbed 
by  my  Man  Friday,  and  to  which  I  have  not  yet 
alluded,  was  the  armadillo  (the  Tatusia  hyhrida),  an 
inoffensive  creature  that  lived  in  holes  of  its  own  dig- 
ging. We  used  to  hunt  it  on  moonlit  nights,  and  at 
these  times  Thomas  Ned's  cnr  dog  came  into  action. 
The  armadillo  is  a  night  prowler,  but  the  first  one  I 
ever  saw  was  early  one  morning  at  the  top  of  the 
hill,  sniffing  about  the  sill  of  my  house. 

The  hill  sloped  steeply  to  the  woods  at  that  point, 
and  when  the  animal  saw  me  it  just  rolled  itself  up 
in  its  shell,  like  a  scaly  ball,  and  bounced  dovni  the 
hill  at  a  rapid  rate.  When  I  arrived  at  the  place 
where  it  had  stopped  rolling,  expecting  to  be  able  to 
get  hold  of  it  (as  it  is  a  slow  runner),  I  found  nothing 
but  a  mound  of  fresh  dirt,  beneath  which  the  arma- 
dillo was  digging  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth  much 
faster  than  I  could  hope  to  dig  it  out. 

As  you  know,  of  course,  the  armadillo  is  com- 
pletely incased  in  a  suit  of  armor  which  renders  it 
unassailable  to  ordinary  animals ;  it  has  a  long,  pointed 
snout,  strong  sharp  claws,  and  a  general  make-up  that 
particularly  fits  it  for  digging.  It  must  be  a  smart 
dog  that  can  catch  up  with  one,  once  it  has  got  those 
strong  fore-feet  at  work  ;  and  even  with  shovels  and 


21(]  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

spades  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  unearth  one.  It  is 
wary  too,  as  well  as  strong,  and  frequently,  while  the 
pursuer  is  hard  upon  its  heels,  the  armadillo  will  sud- 
denly counter  upon  him  and  dig  back  again  and  bur- 


The  armadillo.  Rolled  up. 

row  beneath  the  loose  earth  thrown  out  in  digging, 
thus  completely  outflanking  the  expectant  digger ! 

Notwithstanding  its  skill  in  eluding  the  hunter, 
Thomas  Ned  soon  had  a  pen  full  of  armadillos  and 
agoutis,  over  which  he  used  to  linger  much  of  his 
spare  time — not  so  much,  I  fear,  from  love  of  the 
animals  themselves,  as  of  their  flesh  in  prospective 
banquet.  The  armadillo  was  not  an  obtrusive  or 
troublesome  animal,  as  its  food  was  mainly  insectiv- 
orous— beetles,  grubs,  worms — which  it  hunted  by 
night  and  retired  to  digest  in  its  hole  by  day. 

I  told  Thomas  Ned  about  the  great  armadillo  that 
used  to  roam  the  forests  of  South  America  in  the  qua- 
ternary period,  and  perhaps  once  inhabited  this  very 
island :  the  gigantic  glyptodon,  with  its  shell  as  big  as 
a  hogshead  and  body  the  size  of  an  ox.  He  would 
believe  anything  I  told  him,  generally,  but  this  rather 


THE   FATNESS  OP  THE  EARTH.  217 

staggered  his  credulity.  "  Dis  a  hawg-in-amah  yo' 
done  spoke  of  mus'  a  live  long  time  'fore  slavery  time, 
sah,  fo'  um  don'  heah  nuflBn'  'bout  um  from  ole  massa, 
nor  nobuddy.  Ki !  what  a  t'ing  dat  a  be  toe  meet  in 
de  wood  ob  a  da'k  night !  " 

He  could  hardly  accept  the  glyptodon,  but  he  cher- 
ished chimeras  as  gigantic  as  the  fossil  armadillo — a 
legacy  from  his  African  ancestors.  We  had  many  an 
argument  over  the  existence  of  jumbies  and  were- 
wolves, loup-garous^  blood-sucking  vampires,  and  an- 
thropophagous wild  men.  Thomas  JSTed  was  a  good 
Methodist,  but  he  could  not,  from  the  very  nature  of 
him,  but  believe  in  the  African  fetichism. 

As  he  had  a  good  comfortable  belief  of  his  own, 
being  perfectly  sure  that  everybody  not  believing  as 
he  did  was  in  danger  of  "  de  buhnin'  fiah,"  and  a 
certain  conviction  that  the  doing  of  wrong  always 
entailed  retribution  in  kind,  I  did  not  seek  to  com- 
bat him  in  religious  controversy.  He  never  lied,  I 
never  heard  him  swear,  he  was  scrupulously  honest, 
and  he  was  cleanly ;  I  don't  think  he  will  find  the 
balance  greatly  against  him,  when  he  comes  to  square 
his  last  account.  If  the  great  essential  be  to  become 
as  a  little  child,  then  Thomas  Ned  had  almost  at- 
tained it,  for  his  faith  was  simple  and  certain. 

Our  lives  glided  along  without  many  ripples,  but 

there  came  a  day,  or  a  night,  when  the  stream  was 

changed  almost  in  an  instant  to  a  turbulent  flood. 

The   summer  months  drew  near  their  ending,  and 

the  hurricane  season  approached,  about  the  last  of 

August. 

16 


218  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

I  remember  how  strangely  oppressive  the  air  was 
in  the  morning,  and — 

*'  As  the  hot  day  swooned  into  afternoon, 
Hotter  and  hotter  grew  the  air,  and  soon 
All  the  northwestern  space  of  sky  became 
Heavy,  metallic,  where  the  heat  did  flame 
In  quivering  bronze,  and  the  sea  grew  changed. 
Though  moveless  still,  as  though  dark  rivers  ranged 
Purple  and  green  and  black  throughout  its  deeps  ; 
At  times,  as  shudders  come  o'er  one  who  sleeps 
And  dreams  of  something  evil,  swiftly  flew 
Across  its  face  a  chill  that  changed  the  blue 
To  a  sheet  of  beaten  silver ;  then  again 
It  slept  on  as  before,  but  as  in  pain." 

Even  as  Crusoe  describes  the  coming  of  the  hurri- 
cane, so  came  that  storm  upon  us — with  a  warning 
calm  that,  but  for  its  oppressiveness,  would  have  been 
no  warning.  But  my  Friday  knew  all  the  premoni- 
tory symptoms  of  the  hurricane's  advent,  and  has- 
tened to  make  everything  snug  and  close  before  it 
struck  us.  A  night  only,  it  lasted,  and  barely  that ; 
but  what  havoc  it  wrought,  what  hopes  of  mine  it 
blasted  with  a  breath !  Our  hilltop  house  was  un- 
roofed early  in  the  gale,  and  for  six  or  eight  hours  we 
were  exposed  to  a  pelting  rain ;  two  of  my  palms 
were  beheaded,  and  all  the  rest  denuded  of  their 
leaves — those  graceful  leaves,  with  which  they  used 
to  fan  the  still  air  at  noon,  and  extend  a  protecting 
canopy  above  my  head. 

The  hut  at  the  beach  was  entirely  swept  away, 
but  fortunately  all  our  provisions  had  been  brought 
to  the  Hilltop,  and  that  night  my  Friday  stayed  there 


THE  FATNESS  OF  THE  EARTH.      219 

also.  In  the  morning  we  looked  around  disconsolate 
upon  the  havoc  the  hurricane  had  created;  its  rav- 
ages were  everywhere  visible  :  great  trees  prostrate, 
acres  of  forest  torn  in  shreds,  immense  chasms  washed 
out  of  the  hillsides,  and  large  rocks  torn  from  their 
positions  and  hurled  into  the  beds  of  the  streams. 


CHAPTEK  XXII. 

AFTER   THE   HURRICAIO:. 

We  lose  many  of  our  birds — How  Polly  cheated  Thomas  Ned — 
Man  Friday  digs  out  a  dugout — Catching  sharks  with  a  fish 
for  a  fishhook — Barracoutas,  angel,  Jew,  and  parrot  fish. 

The  morning  after  the  hurricane  opened  bright 
and  shining,  sunlight  glancing  from  the  newly  washed 
leaves,  and  there  was  a  freshness  in  the  air  that 
braced  us  to  renewed  endeavor.  The  restoration  of 
our  roof  was  no  great  task,  and  before  night  it  was 
securely  thatched  ;  but  the  damage  to  crops  and  pro- 
visions could  not  be  repaired.  As  we  made  excur- 
sions into  the  woods,  after  the  storm,  we  noted  with 
grief  that  the  disasters  to  animal  life  had  been  great, 
especially  to  the  birds.  The  parrots  and  cockerricos 
seemed  to  have  been  nearly  all  destroyed.  We  found 
a  few  bedraggled  specimens  on  the  ground,  with 
scarce  strength  enough  to  escape  capture  ;  and  as  for 
the  small  birds,  it  was  many  days  before  any  number 
appeared  again  about  my  door. 

But  Nature  is  strongly  recuperative.  Even  the 
humming  birds,  frail  and  delicate  creatures,  somehow 
resisted  the  gale,  and   came  straggling  back  again. 


AFTER  THE  HURRICANE.  221 

They  probably  were  driven  before  the  winds  for 
many  hundred  miles,  and  many  were  lost  in  the  rag- 
ing ocean ;  but  in  the  end  the  woods  were  again 
peopled  with  these  gems  of  air.  For  three  days  after 
the  storm  we  missed  our  Polly  Psittacus,  and  I 
thought  I  detected  Thomas  Ned  one  day  muttering 
under  his  breath  that  there  was  no  wind  so  ill  that  it 
did  not  bring  relief  to  somebody.  He  knew,  how- 
ever, that  I  highly  prized  Polly  Psittacus  and  that 
his  loss  would  be  deeply  regretted,  and  so  made  no 
audible  comment. 

But  on  the  fourth  morning  we  heard  a  chattering 
on  the  roof  pole,  and  running  out  I  was  delighted 
and  Thomas  Ned  disgusted  at  the  sight  of  dear  old 
Polly.  He  was  as  pert  and  chirrupy  as  ever,  and 
saluted  us  with  a  nonchalance  that  was  delightful. 
"  Bon  jour^  messieurs^^^  he  said,  while  preening  his 
feathers  carefully,  as  though  the  matutinal  greeting 
had  suffered  no  material  interruption.  "  Beauooup 
pluie!  Plenty  rain.  Polly  hungry."  He  hopped 
down  and  took  his  customary  place  at  table,  silent, 
but  evidently  big  with  important  news,  which  his 
restricted  mental  equipment  did  not  permit  him  to 
communicate. 

"  De  same  ole  Jimcrack,"  muttered  Thomas  Ned  ; 
"  da  bery  same  ole  raskil ;  de  win's  done  blow,  an'  de 
stawm  done  rage,  but  de  debil  he  know  he  own ; 
nuttin'  done  touch  ole  Jimcrack!  But,  whar  yo' 
wife,  eh  ? "  Polly  looked  up  from  devouring  a  ba- 
nana, as  though  that  was  something  that  had  occurred 
to  him,  also.     He  scratched  his  head,  turned  it  aside, 


222  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

as  if  to  drop  a  silent  tear,  and  coughed.  Then  he 
winked  one  eye  at  Thomas  Ned ;  at  least,  he  drew 
down  the  nictitating  membrane  slowly,  deliberately, 
and  having  thus  "  wiped  his  eye,"  as  it  were,  went  on 
with  his  breakfast. 

He  was  discreetly  uncommunicative  on  that  point, 
and  Thomas  Ned' turned  to  me  triumphantly  :  "  Wha' 
um  done  tell  yo',  massa  ?  Um  say  dese  bery  wo'ds  : 
dat  Jimcrack  git  red  ob  he  wife  de  fust  oppertunumty  ; 
an'  now  he  done  jesso."  Polly  said  nothing,  but  I 
really  believe  he  understood  it  all,  for  he  winked 
again,  this  time  at  me,  but  went  on  eating  his  banana. 
After  the  meal  was  finished  he  begged  to  be  excused, 
by  bowing  low  and  retreating  backward,  and  flew  up 
to  the  denuded  palm  tree,  where  he  uttered  a  loud 
call-cry.  It  was  answered  instantly,  and  out  of  the 
woods  came  no  less  a  personage  than  Mrs.  Polly  Psit- 
tacus,  who  had  evidently  been  in  hiding  for  the  de- 
nouement  of  this  very  scene,  in  which  her  sagacious 
husband  so  neatly  turned  the  tables  on  Thomas  Ned. 
They  flew  down  to  the  table,  bobbing  and  bowing 
most  ludicrously,  Mrs.  Polly  wild  with  delight  at  see- 
ing me  again,  and  Mr.  Polly  just  on  the  point  of 
bursting  with  pride  and  importance. 

As  for  the  discomfited  Thomas  Ned,  I  fear  he 
did  not  participate  in  the  joy  of  reunion.  It  is  easy 
to  forgive  one  for  turning  out  worse  than  we  have 
predicted  ;  but  it  is  altogether  different  when  one 
turns  out  better ! 

One  by  one,  the  most  of  our  scattered  family  came 
straggling  back,  until  all  were  re-established  in  their 


AFTER  THE  HURRICANE.  223 

respective  quarters ;  all  but  the  most  important  of 
our  choristers,  the  mocking  bird.  His  dainty  wife 
came  to  visit  us,  peering  anxiously  into  the  house  and 
under  the  eaves,  but  without  finding  the  object  of 
her  search,  and  after  sitting  about  dejectedly  a  few 
days  she  left  us  altogether.  No,  not  altogether ;  I 
mean  she  left  us  as  a  widow,  but  less  than  a  week 
later  she  returned  as  a  bride.  The  husband  she 
brought  was  equally  as  fine  in  appearance  as  Mimus 
number  one,  and  they  shamelessly  took  possession  of 
the  same  old  quarters ;  but  the  songs  he  sang  did  not 
seem  to  me  so  sweet  as  those  with  which  our  first 
friend  used  to  greet  the  morn  and  dismiss  the  set- 
ting sun. 

The  crops  I  had  so  providently  planted,  months 
before,  were  now  coming  to  maturity — the  arrow- 
root, tannia,  cassava,  etc. — and  down  by  the  pond  we 
erected  a  primitive  arrowroot  mill,  and  made  a  big 
oven  for  the  drying  of  the  "  f arine." 

In  the  preparation  of  the  f arine  we  observed  great 
care,  for  upon  it  we  depended  mainly  for  our  farina- 
ceous food  in  the  future.  The  roots  were  first  scraped 
carefully  and  washed,  then  grated  on  a  wheel  which 
Thomas  Ned  had  rigged  to  revolve  by  water  power, 
against  the  rough  surface  of  which  the  roots  were 
pressed.  The  cassava  contains  a  very  poisonous  juice, 
and  to  extract  this  we  used  the  Indian  baskets,  which 
are  simply  long  cases  of  woven  strips  in  the  shape  of 
a  cone.  Filling  these  cases  or  cones  with  the  coarse 
meal,  they  are  then  short  and  corpulent ;  hanging 
them  to  the  limb  of  a  tree,  with  a  weight  attached  to 


224  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

the  lower  end,  the  juice  is  gradually  expressed,  and 
the  cone  becomes  elongated.  This  cone  is  an  Indian 
invention,  in  use  in  South  America  and  the  West 
Indies. 

The  pulp  or  meal  is  then  sifted,  to  remove  the 
woody  fiber,  and  heated  over  a  wood  fire,  in  order  to 
carry  away  the  slightest  trace  of  the  poisonous  juice, 
which  is  dissipated  by  the  heat.  This  was  the  farine, 
or  cassava  meal,  and  of  this  we  stored  away  several 
barrels ;  also  from  some  of  the  grated  cassava  we 
made  starch,  and  from  the  juice  itself  a  delicious 
tapioca,  but  only  a  limited  quantity. 

Even  then  we  had  not  obtained  all  that  was  pos- 
sible from  this  useful  product,  for  Thomas  Ned  had 
yet  another  surprise  in  store  for  me,  when  he  boiled 
down  the  juice  to  the  consistency  of  molasses  and 
produced  thereby  the  celebrated  cassareep.  This  is 
the  basis  of  the  famous  pepper-pot  of  the  West  In- 
dies, for  the  inspissated  juice  has  such  antiseptic  prop- 
erties that  it  will  keep  meat  and  vegetables  fi-esh  for 
months,  and  into  the  pot  in  which  the  cassareep  is 
kept  pieces  of  chicken  and  other  meats  are  thrown, 
from  time  to  time,  forming  a  savory  mess  greatly 
relished  by  the  natives. 

Thus  we  utilized  all  the  virtues  of  our  vegetable 
production,  extracting  honey,  as  it  were,  from  every 
substance.  The  work  on  the  cassava  and  arrowroot 
mill  kept  us  busy  till  near  the  end  of  the  year.  With 
December  was  ushered  in  the  last  of  the  twelve 
months  to  elapse  since  my  arrival  here.  I  had  ex- 
perienced every  vicissitude  of  season  and  had  under- 


225 


226  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

gone  some  hardships ;  but  my  ardor  was  still  unabated, 
and  I  continued  to  enjoy  the  simple  pleasures  of  my 
isolated  life. 

My  study  of  the  birds  had  been  extensive,  but  by 
no  means  exhaustive,  and,  notwithstanding  I  had 
catalogued  nearly  all  the  resident  feathered  inhabit- 
ants of  the  island,  I  had  not  learned  all  there  was  to 
be  known  about  them.  My  desire  for  information 
was  insatiable;  even  if  I  could  exhaust  the  birds, 
there  were  other  studies  open  to  me  in  the  realm  of 
Nature,  such  as  botany,  conchology,  archaeology.  A 
lifetime  would  be  too  short  in  which  to  exhaust  all 
the  resources  of  my  island  home. 

It  was  about  a  week  after  the  hurricane  that 
Thomas  Ned  came  to  me  with  an  expansive  grin  on 
his  face,  which  I  knew  from  previous  experience  be- 
tokened some  new  surprise.  "Massa,"  he  said,  "you 
no  wan'  go  a-fishin',  dis  a  fine  day  ? " 

I  admitted  that  it  might  be  an  agreeable  diver- 
sion, and  he  led  the  way  to  the  beach  where  my  hut 
had  stood.  As  we  reached  the  stream,  across  which 
we  had  to  leap  to  gain  the  beach,  I  noted  Thomas  Ned's 
grin  become,  if  possible,  yet  more  vast,  and  following 
the  direction  of  his  glance,  saw  floating  in  the  land- 
sheltered  bay  a  fine  "  dugout."  Then  it  was  apparent 
to  me  what  my  man  had  done  with  all  his  spare  time, 
the  past  few  weeks.  He  had  spent  it  in  cutting  down 
and  hewing  out  this  canoe.  It  was  really  a  fine  one, 
and  I  praised  it  until  I  had  exhausted  my  vocabulary, 
and  set  Thomas  Ned  upon  a  pinnacle  of  delight. 

"  Ah,  me  massa,  me  t'ink  um  lak  canoe,  an'  so  me 


AFTER  THE  HURRICANE.  227 

mek  um  fo'  yo'.  S'pose  yo'  try  um,  while  me  ketch 
de  fish  fo'  fish  wiv ! " 

He  drew  out  a  pair  of  paddles  from  beneath  the 
bamboos  and  then  set  me  afloat  in  the  canoe,  which 
behaved  beautifully  and  skimmed  like  a  bird  over  the 
water  of  my  placid  bay.  When  I  turned  toward  shore 
again  I  found  Thomas  Ned  with  a  bucket  full  of  small 
fish,  the  largest  of  which  was  about  the  size  of  a  big 
mackerel.  He  had  turned  them  out  from  the  rocks 
at  the  bottom  of  the  pond,  where  they  had  attached 
themselves  by  peculiar  sucking-disks  on  the  tops  of 
their  heads ;  for  these  fish  were  those  strange  remoras^ 
which  have  the  faculty  of  affixing  themselves  to  any 
object  they  please. 

"  But  what  are  you  going  to  do  with  those  worth- 
less fish  ? "  I  asked.  "  They  aren't  fit  to  eat ;  didn't 
you  know  that  ? " 

"  Yis,  me  massa ;  but  dey's  fit  f er  somet'in'  else. 
Dey's  what  um  ketch  de  big  fish  wiv,  sah." 

I  didn't  like  to  expose  further  ignorance  to  my 
servant,  so  asked  no  more  questions.  We  were  soon 
at  the  inner  edge  of  the  coral  reef,  on  which  I  had 
been  nearly  wrecked  the  year  before,  and  there  I  saw 
what  a  rich  fish  preserve  I  had  in  this  inclosed  bay. 

There  were  swift-swimming  barracoutas,  rainbow- 
hued  Jew  and  angel  fish,  immense  sharks,  and  lazy 
sea  turtles  without  number,  hundreds  and  thousands 
of  them,  and  all  visible  in  the  clear  water  above  the 
white  and  glistening  coral  bottom. 

Eeaching  into  the  bucket  Thomas  Ned  drew  out 
one  of  the  fish  therein  and  looped  a  line  around  its 


228 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


tail ;  then  he  dropped  over  both  fish  and  line,  and 
handed  one  end  of  the  latter  to  me.  It  was  well 
that  the  other  end  of  that  line  was   made   fast  to 


the  gunwale,  for  it  burned 
my  fingers  so,  as  the  lit- 
tle remora  went  sizzling 
through  the  water,  that  I 
could  just  as  well  have 
held  a  live  coal !  But  my 
assistant  only  chuckled  a 
little  and  baited  another 
line  and  sent  it  swimming 
away  into  deep  water. 
Soon  I  felt  my  line  taut- 
ening, and  Thomas  told 
me  to  pull  it  in.  But  I 
might  as  well  have  tried 
to  pull  in  the  side  of  a  ship. 

"  Gracious  me ! "  I  said  to  the  old  man,  "  it  must  be 
a  whale  or  a  big  shark,  for  I  can't  move  it  a  foot." 


1 

^-*:^:^.  .    .. 

^B 

^ 

1 

fci- 

l^p't^ 

,d^ 

^^^ 

?^^s^ 

fc. 

.c^---m 

A  tish  for  a  lish-hook. 


AFTER  THE  HURRICANE.  229 

But  between  the  two  of  us  we  finally  got  the  fish 
at  the  other  end  up  in  sight,  and  I  found  that  my 
finny  friend  had  afiixed  himself  to  a  shark  about  eight 
feet  long.  He  was  too  big  to  try  to  coax  into  the 
boat,  and  I  made  up  my  mind  that  if  he  did  try  it  I 
would  get  out.  He  had  a  mouth  as  broad  as  the  big- 
gest watermelon  I  ever  saw,  set  with  teeth  as  sharp  as 
needles,  around  a  cavern  that  looked  like  the  top  of  a 
well.  But,  big  as  he  was,  my  little  fish  held  him  until 
we  got  them  near  the  surface,  when  Thomas  Ned 
whacked  him  over  the  head  with  a  club  and  took  him 
into  the  boat  without  any  trouble.  I  noticed  that  as 
soon  as  they  reached  the  surface  my  Uve  bait  let  go 
his  hold  and  swam  away. 

Well,  in  less  than  three  hours  we  had  all  the  fish 
we  could  carry  back  in  the  canoe,  and  then  I  proposed 
that  we  should  set  these  tireless  fishers  free ;  which  we 
finally  did,  and  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  them 
swim  off  without  any  lines  attached  to  their  tails,  and 
presumably  go  a-fishing  on  their  own  account. 

This  fish,  which  is  put  to  so  strange  a  use,  is  called 
the  remora,  and  is  supposed  to  be  the  same  that  stopped 
the  vessels  of  the  ancients  by  attaching  itself  to  their 
bottoms,  like  a  barnacle.  This  it  does,  at  any  rate,  by 
means  of  the  powerful  sucking-disk  on  the  top  of  its 
head ;  and  not  only  to  vessels,  but  to  other  fish,  as  we 
have  seen.  It  will  not  let  go  its  hold,  unless  exposed 
to  the  air,  no  matter  how  hard  one  may  pull  at  its 
tail,  and  this  adhesive  quality  has  been  utilized  by  the 
fishermen  in  these  islands,  ever  since  the  time  Colum- 
bus came  here.     That  navigator  makes  mention  of  it, 


230  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

and  his  son  wrote  that  he  saw  the  Indians  of  Cuba 
catch  large  turtles  with  the  remora.  Sir  Walter 
Kaleigh  also  describes  this  manner  of  fishing  most 
quaintly,  as  he  saw  it  practiced  in  these  very  waters : 
"  Now  shall  you  heare,"  he  says,  "  a  newe  kind  of 
fishing.  Like  as  we  with  grayhounds  do  hunt  the 
hares,  so  do  they,  the  Indians,  as  it  were,  with  a  hnnt- 


Kemoras  and  shark. 

ing  fish  take  other  fishes.  This  fish  was  of  a  shape 
like  unto  a  great  eel,  and  had  hanging  on  the  hinder 
part  of  its  head  a  very  tough  skin,  like  unto  a  great 
bag  or  purse.  This  fish  is  tied  at  the  side  of  a  boat 
by  a  cord,  let  down  so  far  into  the  water  that  it 
may  reach  the  keel  of  the  same,  close  to  which  it 
lieth  until  it  espieth  any  great  fish  or  tortoise,  when  it 
maketh  for  it  as  swiftly  as  an  arrow,  and  so  graspeth 
its  pray  with  that  purse  of  skin  that  no  man's  strength 


AFTER  THE  HURRICANE.  231 

is  sufficient  to  unloose  the  same,  except  by  little  and 
little,  he  drawing  the  line,  it  be  lifted  above  the  brim 
of  the  water,  where  it  immediately  letteth  go  its 
hold." 

I  don't  know  how  many  fish  we  might  have  caught, 
but  as  it  was  I  had  the  pleasure  of  gloating  over  two 
sharks,  three  barracoutas,  four  Jew  and  angel  fishes, 
and  several  brilliantly-colored  parrot  fish,  after  we 
reached  the  shore,  besides  a  turtle  of  goodly  size. 

While  Thomas  Ned  was  cleaning  the  fish,  after  we 
had  gone  ashore,  I  wandered  down  the  beach  with 
my  gun  and  butterfly  net  through  the  thicket  of  sea 
grapes,  where,  among  the  racemes  of  creamy  flowers, 
I  often  found  many  birds,  attracted  by  their  honey 
and  the  hovering  insects.  The  first  bird  I  shot 
there  was  a  black  and  yellow  "sugar-eater,"  which 
fell  into  a  dense  cluster  of  sea  grapes.  As  another 
bird  attracted  me  just  then,  I  departed  in  pursuit  of 
it,  merely  pausing  long  enough  to  note  where  the  first 
had  fallen. 

"When  I  returned,  a  few  minutes  later,  I  could 
not  find  it ;  but  as  I  was  peering  through  the  leaves, 
which  cast  a  flickering  shade  on  the  snowy  sands,  I 
saw  a  large  lizard,  with  one  foot  raised,  intently  watch- 
ing me.  Looking  closely  I  saw  that  he  had  appro- 
priated the  bird  I  had  shot,  had  stripped  it  of  its 
feathers,  and  was  hastily  devouring  it  when  I  had 
appeared. 

A  tuft  of  feathers  stuck  to  his  nose,  which  he 
vainly  endeavored  to  scratch  off  with  the  claws  of 
one  foot,  at  the  same  time  eying  me  suspiciously,  as 


232 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


if  asking  what  I  was  going  to  do  about  it.     He  pre- 
sented such  a  comical  sight  and  was  so  supremely 


Bird-Spider  and  Lizard. 

audacious  that  I  was  about  to  move  away  and  let 
him  enjoy  his  feast  unmolested,  when  another  object 
drew  my  attention. 


AFTER  THE  HURRICANE.  233 

Descending  upon  the  lizard  by  long  leaps,  out  of 
the  grape  branches  appeared  a  large  bird-spider,  with 
hairy  legs  and  formidable  beak.  Before  I  could 
interfere,  it  had  seized  the  reptile  behind  the  neck, 
and  then  ensued  a  struggle  for  life.  It  was  short, 
however,  and  soon  the  lizard  was  lying  lifeless  across 
the  body  of  the  bird,  and  both  victims  were  the 
spider's  prey. 


ir 


CHAPTEK  XXm. 

THOMAS    NED    FINDS    A   PEARL   OF   PRICE. 

A  search  for  novelties — How  the  world  has  changed — The  great 
jabiru — Pearls  at  Man-o'-war  Bay — Exploring  the  coral  caves 
— In  the  grasp  of  a  devilfish — A  grave  beneath  the  palms — 
Friends  come  for  me,  and  I  leave  paradise. 

One  can  not  be  a-field  anywhere,  in  forest  or  by 
shore,  without  seeing  something  worthy  of  observa- 
tion and  making  note  of  it.  The  difficulty  with  those 
who  are  best  at  observing  is,  that  they  see  too  much — 
more  than  they  can  readily  communicate. 

Now,  it  must  not  be  thought  that,  because  I  only 
describe  a  few  of  the  birds,  beasts,  and  fishes  that  fell 
in  my  way,  there  were  not  many  more  well  worthy  of 
notice.  This  age,  as  you  know,  is  very  different  from 
that  in  which  Crusoe  lived,  when  every  inhabitant  of 
a  far-distant  land  was  novel  to  English  readers,  when 
the  present  school  of  naturalists  was  unknown,  and 
before  even  the  great  Linnaeus  and  Buffon  had  stirred 
the  world  with  the  knowledge  of  their  discoveries. 

Facts  then  unpublished,  unknown,  are  now  com- 
mon property  of  the  veriest  tyros  of  science ;  and  as 
for  adventure,  every  boy  has  been  sated  with  it  in  all 

234 


THOMAS  NED  FINDS  A  PEARL   OF   PRICE.     235 

its  protean  forms,  by  fire,  flood,  field  and  sea.  Noth- 
ing now  remains  for  the  writer  of  that  class  of  fiction 
that  human  ingenuity  can  suggest  or  desperate  wits 
invent. 

This  being  so,  how  can  I  expect  to  excite  interest 
in  my  homely  narrative  of  everyday  doings,  unless  I 
pick  out  all  the  plums  in  my  pudding  and  set  them 
before  the  literary  Lucullus  all  in  a  row  ?  How, 
indeed  ?  And,  dear  me  !  the  "  plums  "  of  adventure 
in  real  life  are  so  very  few,  and  the  days  when  one 
has  no  adventure  at  all  worth  the  telling  so  very  many, 
that  the  task  seems  discouraging ! 

Now,  of  the  one  hundred  and  fifty  birds  in  my 
island,  every  one  was  to  me  extremely  interesting ; 
but  to  one  who  has  not  seen  them  there,  sporting  in 
the  trees  and  singing  in  the  shrubs,  they  can  not,  of 
course,  seem  so  attractive.  A  whole  host  of  feathered 
claimants  appears  before  me,  when  I  try  to  summon 
from  the  chambers  of  memory  those  I  have  seen  in 
their  haunts  and  place  them  before  my  readers  in 
order  of  attractiveness. 

The  family  most  fully  represented,  perhaps,  was 
that  containing  the  "  waders,"  such  as  the  herons  and 
bitterns,  and  those  most  attractive  of  water  birds,  the 
gallinules.  These  last  are  about  a  foot  in  length,  with 
eyes  bright  crimson,  a  beak  painted  vermilion  tipped 
with  yellow,  and  a  frontal  plate,  like  a  shield,  be- 
tween the  eyes,  pale  blue  in  color.  The  largest  speci- 
men of  the  wader  family  ever  seen  here  is  the  jabiru, 
or  great  South  American  stork,  which  probably  wan- 
dered hither  from  the  savannas  of  the  Orinoco.     It  is 


236  CRUSOE»S  ISLAND. 

common  in  the  French  colony  of  Cayenne,  where  it  is 
known  as  the  "  ton -you -you,"  and  in  Paraguay,  far  to 
the  south,  it  is  called  "ai-ai-ai,"  both  names  being 
derived  from  its  cries. 

For  both  birds  and  information,  I  searched  long 
and  hunted  hard,  while  the  weather  was  good ;  but 
after  the  days  of  rain  came  on  and  prevented  me  from 
unrestricted  roving  in  the  woods,  I  sat  contentedly 
before  the  fire  of  fragrant  cedar  wood  in  my  Hill- 
top house,  and,  while  the  wind  howled  and  the  rain 
fell  in  torrents,  pored  over  my  books  and  manu- 
scripts. 

During  the  rainy  days  Thomas  Ned  sat  modestly 
apart,  at  the  end  of  the  house  to  which  the  kitchen 
was  attached,  and  wove  baskets  and  nets,  skinned 
birds,  and  made  opossum  traps.  He  rarely  spoke  un- 
less I  addressed  him ;  but  he  was  always  alert  for  in- 
formation, and  one  evening  begged  me  to  read  him 
something  from  my  books.  So  it  came  to  pass  that  I 
frequently  read  to  him,  chiefly  from  the  voyages  of 
Columbus  and  other  navigators  of  these  seas. 

He  was  particularly  interested  in  the  account  by 
Columbus  of  the  Indian  pearl  fisheries  of  Margarita, 
not  far  away  to  the  southwest  of  us.  It  was  in  the 
year  1499  that  the  first  pearls  were  taken  by  white 
men,  from  the  Indians  of  Margarita  and  Cubagua, 
who  were  found  wearing  strings  and  ropes  of  these 
precious  sea  products. 

For  more  than  two  hundred  years  the  Spaniards 
worked  these  pearl  fisheries,  and  in  one  year,  that  of 
1587,  sent  home  to  Spain  more  than  one  hundred  and 


THOMAS  NED  FINDS  A  PEARL  OF  PRICE.    237 

sixty  pounds  of  pearls,  of  great  size  and  extraordinary 
beauty. 

All  this  information  Thomas  Ned  received  with 
open  month  and  bulging  eyes.  "  An'  do  yo'  mean, 
me  massa,  dat  ole  man  C'lumbus  done  foun'  all  dose 
puhls  right  down  heah,  in  de  island  wha'  we  can 
a'mos'  see  from  de  mountain  yander  ? " 

"  Well,  not  Columbus  exactly,  but  his  countrymen 
and  companions.  But  they  were  found  there,  mil- 
lions of  dollars'  worth,  and  probably  many  millions 
more  were  spoiled  by  the  ignorant  natives,  who  bored 
holes  through  them  by  means  of  fire  and  wore  them 
as  necklaces." 

"  Now,  me  massa,  'sense  me,  but  wha'  dis  a  puhl 
look  a  like  ?     He  look  somet'ing  lak  ister,  don'  it  ? " 

"  Yes,  the  pearl  itself  is  found  inside  an  oyster,  or 
rather  of  a  moUusk  belonging  to  the  oyster  family. 
But  why  do  you  ask  ? " 

"  Why  me  axes  yuh,  massa  ?  Come  wiv  me,  an' 
me  done  show  yuh  why  me  axes  dat  a  ques'ion.  Um 
t'iiiks  um  know  whar'  'bout  dat  a  puhl  libe,  right  heah 
in  Man-o'-wah  Bay." 

It  was  a  beautiful  morning ;  there  was  nothing  in 
particular  to  do,  so  I  followed  Thomas  Ked  to  the 
shore  and  into  his  dugout,  which  he  paddled  swiftly 
out  to  the  inner  edge  of  the  coral  reefs. 

Arrived  there,  he  threw  overboard  the  killock, 
thus  anchoring  the  canoe,  and  then  stripped  himself 
for  a  plunge  into  the  sea. 

"  Now,  me  massa,  yuh  set  right  dar,  an'  don'  do 
nufiin'  but  watch.    Even  ef  a  shahk  'pear  on  de  scene, 


238  CRUSOE^S  ISLAND. 

don'  yo'  min'  um,  'cause  him  no  'starb  ole  niggah  lak 
Thomas  Ned.  But,  me  massa,  ef  you  see  any  sign  ob 
debilfish  yo'  pull  me  up  quick,  quick,  'cause  dat  a 
debilfish  him  mo'  pow'ful  dan  fawty  shahks." 

I  promised  him  I  would  keep  a  sharp  watch,  and 
giving  into  my  hands  the  end  of  a  line  which  was 
fastened  around  his  waist,  my  black  friend  dropped 
quietly  into  the  water.  The  water  of  the  coral -bot- 
tomed bay  was  clear  as  crystal,  and  I  followed 
Thomas  Ned  in  his  descent  until  he  arrived  at  a  sea 
garden  under  the  ledges,  where  the  waving  leaves  of 
marine  plants  hid  the  shell-strewn  sands.  He  had  a 
long,  sharp  knife  in  one  hand,  and  I  saw  him  sud- 
denly stoop  and  slide  the  knife  beneath  a  mass  of 
shells  and  kelp,  and  then  he  signaled  me  to  draw  him 
up.  I  pulled  him  up,  and  when  he  arrived  at  the 
surface  he  tossed  in  the  mass  with  one  hand,  while 
with  the  other  he  clung  to  the  gunwale.  His  breath 
was  nearly  gone,  but  after  a  minute  or  so  he  had  re- 
covered it  and  then  climbed  into  the  boat.  Seizing 
hold  of  the  shell  mass  he,  with  his  long,  keen  knife, 
dexterously  detached  the  oysters  separately.  Select- 
ing the  largest  oyster,  he  carefully  opened  it,  reveal- 
ing its  inner  surface,  shining  and  nacreous,  like  a  large 
mother-of-pearl.  This  he  handed  to  me,  and  with 
a  smaller  knife  I  removed  the  fleshy  mantle,  and  there 
before  our  wondering  eyes  lay  a  pearl  of  goodly  size ! 

Thomas  Ned's  eyes  shone  like  diamonds,  and  he 
nearly  fell  into  the  water  while  executing  a  caper  in 
honor  of  our  discovery.  "  Me  massa,  wha'  me  done 
tell  yuh  ?     Dat  a  puhl,  shuah  'nuff,  ain't  um  ? " 


THOMAS  NED  FINDS  A  PEARL  OF   PRICE.     239 

I  assured  him  that  it  was,  and  bestowed  upon  him 
the  praise  that  was  his  due,  at  the  same  time  trying  to 
prevent  him  from  going  into  the  water  again.  But 
he  was  not  to  be  restrained.  "Why,  me  massa,  ef 
dey's  one  big  puhl  down  dar,  dey  mus'  toe  be  'nudder, 
ob  eo'se.  Um  don'  wan'  um  mase'f,  but  dey's  fine 
t'ings  fo'  buckra  lak  you  is,  so  me  git  um."  So  over 
he  went,  and  the  next  moment  was  groping  again 
among  the  coral  gardens  for  their  most  precious  pro- 
ductions. 

I  lost  sight  of  him  for  a  second  as  he  plunged  into 
a  deep  grove  of  sea  plants,  and  as  I  was  peering  over 
the  rail  I  suddenly  felt  a  tug  at  the  line.  It  was  a 
quick  jerk,  and  undoubtedly  meant  something,  so  I 
began  to  pull  in  with  all  my  might.  But  after  a  few 
fathoms  had  been  drawn  in  I  found  it  impossible  to 
haul  another  foot,  for  it  seemed  as  though  a  ton 
weight  was  attached  to  the  lower  end.  And  still 
Thomas  Ned  was  not  half  clear  of  the  seaweed  gar- 
den ;  his  head  only  was  in  sight,  his  hands  and  limbs 
evidently  held  down  by  some  invisible  weight  or  at- 
tachment, 

I  felt  then  that  something  terrible  had  happened, 
and  that  the  life  of  my  faithful  servant  depended 
upon  my  instant  action.  There  was  but  one  thing 
I  could  do,  and  that  was  to  pull  him  out  of  the  water 
before  he  should  be  suffocated  and  drowned.  And 
so  bracing  a  foot  against  the  gunwale  I  took  a  bight 
around  both  hands  and  pulled  with  all  my  strength. 
Then  the  strain  relaxed  a  bit,  and  gradually  I  lifted 
him  toward  the  surface ;  but  it  was  a  dead  weight  I 


240 


THOMAS  NED  FINDS  A  PEARL  OF  PRICE.     241 

was  hauling  and  not  a  living  body.  I  felt  nay  heart 
sink  at  the  thought  of  what  might  have  happened 
to  him,  but  that  only  put  new  strength  into  my 
hands.  At  last  his  head  appeared,  then  a  hand,  above 
the  surface.  I  made  fast  the  line  and  stooped  over 
the  rail  to  haul  him  in  with  my  hands,  when  I  was 
suddenly  seized  by  a  clammy  tentacle,  and  knew  then 
that  we  were  in  the  grasp  of  a  devilfish ! 

Thomas  was  unconscious  and  could  render  me  no 
assistance ;  his  body  and  limbs  were  inclosed  within 
the  tightening  grip  of  the  devilfish.  His  long  knife 
was  still  clutched  in  one  nerveless  hand,  and,  despite 
the  danger  of  being  inclosed  by  another  hideous  arm, 
I  reached  over  and  seized  it.  Then,  quick  as  I  could 
turn,  I  severed  the  tentacle  that  had  clutched  me, 
and  one  by  one  the  slimy  arms  that  surrounded  my 
friend's  lifeless  form. 

The  devilfish  made  a  terrible  fight,  grasping  the 
gunwales  of  the  canoe,  and  reaching  over  after  me, 
rearing  its  horrible  death's-head,  with  its  demoniacal 
eyes,  close  to  my  face.  But,  evading  somehow  its 
every  movement,  I  severed,  one  after  another,  the 
ligatures,  that  squirmed  and  crawled  like  living  ser- 
pents, until  at  last  Thomas  Ned  was  free.  The 
mutilated  devilfish  sank  back  into  the  coral  cave,  its 
horrid  eyes  fixed  on  me  to  the  last,  bestowing  on  me 
a  mute  assurance  that  when  its  limbs  should  be  grown 
again  it  would  exact  revenge  and  take  a  full  requital 
for  its  wounds. 

But  I  gave  it  no  more  thought  now,  for  my 
friend  needed  my  attention.     I  drew  him  into  the 


242  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

boat,  limp,  apparently  lifeless,  and  for  half  an  hour 
worked  over  him,  trying  to  win  back  the  breath  of 
life.  Then,  having  made  no  progress,  I  cut  the 
anchor  rope  and  hastened  for  the  shore,  where  I 
stretched  him  beneath  the  palms  and  renewed  my 
efforts.  At  last  a  feeble  flutter  of  an  eyelid  rewarded 
me ;  but  the  grayish  pallor  of  the  honest  face  caused 
my  hopes  to  sink,  even  as  a  faint  whisper  issued  from 
the  ashen  lips : 

"  Me  massa,  dis — am — de — las'  call  fer — Thomas 
— Ned.  God — bless — bless — massa !  Bury  me — near 
— de  seaside  house, — massa.  T'ank  de  good  God 
— um — go — fus' !  Me  'f raid  dat — dat — um  leab — 
'lone." 

He  groped  aimlessly  for  something,  his  eyes  fast 
glazing,  finally  found  and  seized  my  hand,  drew  it  to 
his  lips,  and  so  passed  away — devoted,  faithful,  to 
the  very  last. 

Next  day  at  sunset  I  placed  him  in  the  grave  I 
dug  beneath  the  palm  trees  where  the  hut  had  stood. 
My  heart  was  sore  and  heavy,  for  I  felt  that  one 
tie  had  been  severed  that  had  bound  me  to  this 
spot.  Until  death  comes  into  our  experience  we 
have  no  conception  of  the  true  range  and  scope 
of  life — its  depth  and  breadth.  Until  this  happens 
to  us  we  are  like  to  take  but  superfcial  views  of 
our  responsibilities  and  surroundings;  after  this 
happens  our  horizon  widens  and  our  sympathies  ex- 
pand. 

Thus  it  was,  perhaps,  that,  deprived  of  his  com- 
panionship, humble  though  it  had  been,  I  was  now 


THOMAS  NED  FINDS  A  PEARL  OP  PRICE.     243 

less  content  to  dwell  here  apart  from  the  world. 
Everything  about  me  took  on  a  somber  tinge,  despite 
the  golden  atmosphere  of  this  land  so  near  the  sun. 
Even  the  living  things — the  parrots,  the  mocking 
birds,  the  vivacious  wrens — seemed  to  be  aware  that 
some  great  calamity  had  happened.  There  seemed 
to  be  a  mournful  cadence  in  the  song  birds'  notes, 
and  even  Polly  Psittacus  was  hushed  and  subdued. 


The  grave  beneath  the  pahns. 


He  noticed  our  friend's  absence,  for  he  went  from 
house  to  kitchen,  head  hanging  down,  and  with 
a  solemn  air;  but  he  was  now  a  bird  of  tact  and 
discretion,  and  if  he  felt  either  grief  or  joy  at 
Ned's  departure,  he  had  the  good  sense  not  to  speak 
of  it. 

So  I  became  restless,  and  anxious  to  leave  this 
paradise  which  at  the  first  had  held  so  much  of 
promise,  so  much  of  pleasure.  The  substance  of 
things  had  not  changed;  but  everything  was  now 
tinged  with   the   melancholy  of   a  terrible   happen- 


244  CRUSOE^S  ISLAND. 

ing.  And  I  had  begun  bo  bravely !  I  had  re- 
solved here  to  live  out  my  life,  to  spend  it  in  the 
search  for  truth.  This  island  was  to  have  been  my 
microcosm. 

But  at  last  there  came  a  day — I  remember  well 
its  brightness  and  the  sweetness  of  the  air — when  the 
choice  was  offered  me  to  leave  or  stay.  A  vessel 
sailed  around  the  promontory  and  dropped  anchor 
behind  the  coral  reefs.  I  knew  then  that  the  end  of 
my  dreaming  was  at  hand,  that  my  friends  had  come 
for  me. 

It  matters  not  why,  but  I  went ;  and  that  was 
years  ago.  But  even  now  I  often  find  myself  sigh- 
ing for  the  home  on  the  Hilltop,  for  the  trusted 
friends  I  found  there,  and  living  in  retrospect  the 
time  when,  in  the  words  of  Crusoe,  "  I  wanted  noth- 
ing but  what  I  had,  and  had  nothing  but  what  I 
wanted." 


-'T- 

OCB^     =»« 

^ 

^ 

k 

^*p 

> 

L^^'^^^^l  1 

t 

^  '^^rOril^l  ?  A^ 

ijps 

plf-*' 

-— ^=^^1 

*"  ^^"^sbr^-^ybj^l^  )*T^ 

i 

1 

Sr- 

■    1j 

H 

^  -rr:^^^^^//J 

i 
m 

^^^P 

i 

N 

^%M 

S^A^^^V/x 

J 

^ 

5 

m5^^ 

r 

5 

^i(Ar\^/ 

SI             "^ 

!>     °        //\    /^^  A-V 

*-i 

f 

Cj 

f  . 

K2^$^ 

rJk£ 

^^ 

=3 

^^B 

S| 

S 
i 

1 

^Pi 

^  "''^ —  ^  ^      ^ /p^4>R/ 

*t 

<.' 

"y'^^^^^^J -Hfef 

^; 

4,^ 

A'z^^^/r 

\^^^^^ 

J  fi 

^1. 

PlZ^Pr3^^^  / 

/M 

C 

I 

\^^\S^^Sw/ln 

Sn 

|E' 

\i^ 

X. 

^ 

\ 

H 

x| 

Z!^^^™ 

^ 

A- 

\ 

^ 

^ 

246 


APPENDIX. 


EVIDENCE  IN  SUPPORT  OF  TOBAGO  AS  THE 
TRUE  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

As  Tobago's  history  is  intimately  connected  with  the 
growth  of  colonial  possessions  in  the  West  Indies,  and  as 
its  condition  at  the  time  in  which  Defoe  wrote  may  have 
had  much  to  do  with  his  choosing  it  for  the  residence  of 
his  hero,  I  trust  the  following  chronological  notes  will 
not  be  unacceptable  to  the  general  reader  and  to  the  stu- 
dent of  history.  They  are  taken  (those  that  refer  to  To- 
bago) from  the  History  of  Tobago,  by  H.  lies  Woodcock, 
Esq.,  formerly  a  judge  in  that  island. 

In  parallel  columns,  will  be  given  contemporary  data 
that  have  to  do  with  persons  and  things  mentioned  in  our 
narrative. 

It  may  be  difficult  for  one  to  transport  himself  in 
imagination  to  such  an  obscure  island  as  this  little  speck 
in  the  Caribbean  Sea,  but  it  will  soon  be  shown  that  it 
has  exercised  a  great  influence,  not  only  in  the  history  of 
the  world  of  fact,  but  in  the  world  of  fiction. 

Chronology, 
tobago.  selkirk  and  crusoe. 

1438.— Tobago  probably  dis-      i5;^(?-';^^.— Shipwreck     and 
covered,  as  Trinidad  and  subsequent  adventures  of 

Grenada  were,  by  Colum-         Alonzo  Cuaco,  three  years 
bus,  on  his  third  voyage.  on  a  desert  island. 

247 


248 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


TOBAGO. 

i^j^5.— Attempted  settle- 
ment of  English,  from 
Barbados  ;  repulsed  by 
Indians. 

1632.— Two  hundred  per- 
sons arrived  from  Hol- 
land. They  found  no  in- 
habitants, and  they  plant- 
ed a  colony  and  named 
it  New  Walcheren.  "  The 
Spaniards  of  Trinidad, 
fearing  the  new  settlers 
would  penetrate  their  se- 
crets in  exploring  the 
banks  of  the  Oroonoko, 
which  was  thought  at 
that  time  to  contain  beds 
of  gold,  determined  to  ex- 
tirpate these  unwelcome 
neighbors,  and,  enlisting 
in  their  cause  the  savages 
of  Trinidad  and  the  can- 
nibals of  the  continent, 
killed  most  of  them.  The 
remainder  fled,  and  To- 
bago was  left  to  solitude." 

i^^;^.— The  next  attempt 
was  in  1642,  by  James 
Duke,  of  the  small  but 
independent  state  of 
Courland,  on  the  Baltic, 
but  since  merged  into  the 
empire  of  Russia.  His 
people  landed  on  the 
northern  shore  of  the  is- 


SELKIRK  AND  CRUSOE. 

1563. — Juan  Fernandez 
[Spanish  navigator]  dis- 
covered the  island  which 
now  bears  his  name. 

About  the  Middle  of  the 
Sixteenth  Century. — Ro- 
mantic adventures  of  Pe- 
dro Serrano,  who  was 
wrecked  on  an  island  in 
the  Caribbean  Sea.  Lived 
there  alone  seven  years, 
subsisting  upon  turtle  and 
shellfish,  and  allaying 
thirst  with  water  caught 
in  shells  of  the  turtles  he 
slaughtered.  By  rubbing 
together  two  sticks,  In- 
dian fashion,  he  made  a 
fire,  which  he  tended  with 
assiduous  care  lest  it 
should  leave  him.  At 
the  end  of  a  few  months 
he  was  entirely  naked, 
and  remained  in  a  nude 
state  seven  years.  When 
finally  rescued  he  was 
covered  with  long  hair, 
and  in  this  state  was  ex- 
hibited before  the  court 
of  Spain.  He  was  pen- 
sioned and  sent  to  Peru, 
but  died  on  the  voyage 
at  Panama.  The  narra- 
tive of  his  adventures  was 
published  in  Grarcilasso's 


APPENDIX. 


249 


TOBAGO. 

land,  which  they  called 
Courland  Bay,  a  name  it 
still  retains.  In  1658  this 
colony  was  taken  by  the 
Dutch,  and  afterward  by 
the  French. 

1666.— Islsind  taken  by  Eng- 
lish adventurers,  but  their 
garrison  of  fifty  men  was 
captured  by  stratagem  by 
twenty-five  French  from 
Grenada,  who  remained 
here  a  year,  when  they 
withdrew,  set  fire  to  every- 
thing combustible,  and 
the  island  was  again  aban- 
doned and  left  without 
an  inhabitant,  for  the 
second  time  since  Euro- 
pean occupation ! 

i67^.— English  take  Tobago 
from  the  Dutch,  who  had 
again  settled  there,  after 
French  abandonment. 

i677.— The  fair  island 
seemed  fated  to  be  the 
scene  of  war  and  desola- 
tion, for  the  Dutch,  hav- 
ing once  more  returned, 
were  set  upon  by  the  Eng- 
lish, under  command  of 
Sir  Tobias  Bridges,  who 
drove  them  out  and 
brought  away  four  hun- 
dred prisoners  and  many 
18  V, 


SELKIRK  AND   CRUSOE. 

History  of  Peru,  an  Eng- 
lish translation  of  which 
appeared  in  London 
about  1700,  and  Defoe 
most  probably  saw  it. 

The  island  is  still  called 
Serrano,  or  Pearl  Island, 
and  lies  in  latitude  14°  N. 

i^^;^.— Crusoe  born. 

16JiS. — Juan  Fernandez  vis- 
ited by  Captain  Tasman, 
a  Dutch  navigator. 

1659. — Crusoe  voyages  from 
Brazil  to  Africa,  in  quest 
of  slaves. 

1659. — Wrecked  on  a  deso- 
late island,  the  last  pre- 
vious observation  having 
placed  him  12°  and  some 
minutes  north  of  the 
equator. 

i^^i.— Defoe  born. 

i<57^.— Selkirk  born. 

1681. — English  buccaneer, 
Captain  Watlin,  chased 
from  Juan  Fernandez  by 
three  Spanish  ships ; 
leaves  on  the  island  a 
Mosquito  Indian,  who 
was  out  hunting  for 
goats. 

i6<^^.— This  Indian  found 
here  by  Captain  Dampier. 

1686. — Crusoe  rescued. 

i657.— Arrives  in  England. 


250 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


TOBAGO. 

negroes.  The  Dutch  again 
settled  there,  but  in  1677, 
the  French  then  being  at 
war  with  Holland,  the 
Count  d'Estrees,  then  in 
comma  ad  of  a  large  fleet 
in  West  Indian  waters, 
was  ordered  to  proceed 
against  Tobago.  The  fleet 
came  to  anchor  in  Palmit 
Bay,  and  then  stood  in  to 
engage  the  Dutch  ships, 
while  a  large  force 
stormed  the  castle.  Both 
were  repulsed,  with  a  loss 
of  a  hundred  and  fifty- 
killed  and  two  hundred 
wounded,  and  D'Estrees's 
flagship  of  seventy  guns 
was  blown  up  and  two 
others  stranded.  The 
Dutch  were  left  victori- 
ous, though  at  great  loss. 
The  fleet  returned  to  France, 
but  came  back  in  October 
with  twenty  sail  of  war 
and  a  great  number  of 
smaller  craft,  on  board 
which  were  fifteen  hun- 
dred land  forces.  On  the 
10th  D'Estrees  summoned 
Herr  Binker  to  surrender, 
and  on  the  12th  com- 
menced throwing  fire 
balls  into  the  castle.    The 


SELKIRK  AND  CRUSOE. 

1695. — Revisits  his  island. 

i70^.— Selkirk  leaves  Eng- 
land on  a  buccaneering 
cruise. 

1705. — Crusoe's  narrative 
ends ;  Crusoe  then  sev- 
enty-two years  old. 

i7(>9._Captain  Woods  Rog- 
ers discovers  Selkirk  on 
Juan  Fernandez,  where 
he  had  lived  four  years 
and  four  months. 

1710. — Selkirk's  journal 
published :  "  Providence 
displayed,  or  a  very  sur- 
prizing Account  of  one 
Mr.  Alexander  Selkirk, 
Master  of  a  Merchant 
Man  called  the  Cinque 
Ports ;  who,  dreaming 
that  the  Ship  would  soon 
after  be  lost,  he  desired  to 
be  left  on  a  Desolate  Is- 
land in  the  South  Seas, 
where  he  lived  4  Years 
and  4  Months,  without 
seeing  the  Face  of  Man ; 
the  Ship  being  afterwards 
cast  away,  as  he  dreamed. 

"  As  also,  how  he  came  after- 
ward to  be  miraculously 
preserved  and  redeemed 
from  that  fatal  Place,  by 
two  Bristol  Privateers, 
called     the     Duke    and 


APPENDIX. 


251 


TOBAGO. 

third  ball  blew  up  the 
magazine,  killing  all  the 
officers,  and  the  works 
were  immediately 

stormed,  taken,  and  de- 
stroyed. 

Finding  nothing  more 
which  seemed  capable  of 
destruction,  the  victors 
abandoned  the  prize  for 
which  they  had  been  so 
eagerly  contending,  and 
Tobago  was  once  more 
consigned  to  that  solitude 
in  which  it  was  first  dis- 
covered. 

1679. — Island  restored  to 
the  Dutch. 


SELKIRK  AND   CRUSOE. 

Duchess,  that  took  the 
rich  Acapulco  Ship,  with 
100  Ton  of  Gold,  and 
brought  it  to  England. 

"  To  which  is  added  an  Ac- 
count of  his  Life  and 
Conversation,  his  Birth 
and  Education;  his  de- 
scription of  the  Island 
where  he  was  cast  away : 
how  he  subsisted  ;  the 
several  strange  Things  he 
saw  ;  and  how  he  used  to 
spend  his  Time ;  with  also 
some  pious  Ejaculations 
that  he  used,  composed 
during  his  melancholy 
Residence  there.  Written 
by  his  own  Hand,  and 
attested  by  most  of  the 
eminent  Merchants  upon 
the  Royal  Exchange." 

1719. — Robinson  Crusoe 
published. 

i7^.5.— Selkirk  died. 

17S1.— Defoe  died. 

1741. — Lord  Anson  visited 
Juan  Fernandez. 


I684.— Tobago  was  added  to  the  list  of  neutral  islands, 
comprising  Dominica,  St.  Vincent,  and  St.  Lucia, 
which  were  only  to  be  visited  for  wood  and  water. 
In  1748  the  French  attempted  a  settlement,  which 
was  taken  by  the  English  in  1762,  and  confirmed  in 
their  possession  by  treaty  in  1763.     ''  Thus  the  foun- 


RobinJbuCriiloe  as  dcXcx'ib'd  fa^eiyeVol  JJ^/Z/i'/^^/z^/-^^ 


Crusoe,  according  to  "  Crusoe,"  1719. 
252 


APPENDIX.  253 

dation  was  laid  of  the  first  permanent  colony  that, 
through  a  train  of  disastrous  circumstances,  had 
ever  been  permitted  to  flourish  within  its  shores." 
Of  the  several  towns  built  at  different  times  nothing 
remains  but  a  stone  here  and  there. 

llJlfS, — French  undertake  a  colony,  but  abandon  it. 

1757. — Solitary  exile  found  there.  A  tale  is  current,  ac- 
cording to  historian  Sou  they,  that  smacks  somewhat 
of  Robinson  Crusoe,  only  the  event  transpired  after 
Crusoe  was  written.  One  day  in  1757  a  midshipman 
landed  here,  from  the  ship  Sterling  Castle  of  the 
royal  navy,  where  the  Europeans  had  no  settlement. 
Having  wandered  into  the  woods  in  search  of  wild 
oranges,  he  was  surprised  at  the  discovery  of  a  hut, 
the  occupant  of  which,  a  venerable  man,  addressed 
him  in  French.  He  declared  he  had  resided  twenty- 
one  years  in  that  solitary  situation,  having  scarcely 
any  communication  with  human  beings.  The  In- 
dians, he  said,  would  sometimes  call  at  his  hermit- 
age when  hunting,,  give  him  part  of  their  game,  and 
shave  his  beard  off  with  their  knives.  He  had  been 
a  priest  at  Martinique,  but  advancing  some  tenet 
which  gave  offense,  he  was  seized  in  the  night  and 
transported  to  Tobago.  Offers  were  made  to  con- 
vey him  to  Europe,  which  he  declined,  saying  that 
he  was  perfectly  reconciled  to  his  situation,  and 
happier  than  he  could  be  in  any  other. 

We  are  told  by  the  author  from  whom  the  above  is  quoted 
(Southey)  that  in  1768  a  human  skeleton  was  dug 
up  on  a  plantation  called  Somerville,  with  gold  brace- 
lets on  the  arms,  supposed  to  have  been  deposited 
there  before  the  island  was  known  to  Europeans. 

1762. — Tobago  taken  by  the  English,  who  were  confirmed 
in  their  possession. 

1763. — The  year  in  which  JOSEPHINE  was  born,  in  the  near 
island  of  Martinique. 


254  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

1781. — The  French  again  took  the  island,  effecting  a 
landing  at  Plymouth,  Great  Courland  Bay.  Being 
driven  out  of  this  place,  they  retreated  to  the  woods 
in  the  center  of  the  island.  There  are  traces  of  a 
military  road  there  yet,  and  old  cannon  lying  in 
the  woods  at  Bloody  Bay. 

1793. — Tobago  once  more  English.  -~^ 

1802. — Ceded  to  the  French.  Tobago  had  a  voice  in  the 
election  of  Bonaparte. 

1802, — As  the  one-time  residence  of  our  great  privateer, 
John  Paul  Jones,  Tobago  may  interest  historians. 

i505.— Taken  by  the  English. 

181Ji.. — Finally  ceded  to  the  English,  in  whose  possession 
this  unfortunate  island,  the  bruised  and  shattered 
shuttlecock  of  many  wars,  has  since  remained. 

For  nearly  ninety  years,  now,  Tobago  has  been  English, 
and,  although  nearly  all  its  inhabitants  are  blacks 
or  colored  people,  they  are  loyal  to  the  crown  that 
emancipated  them,  in  1838. 

The  journal  of  Sir  William  Young,  in  1792,  gives  us  a 
good  account  of  the  island  and  clear  conception  of  the 
powerful  currents  that  set  in  about  Tobago,  caused  by  the 
water  of  the  Orinoco :  "Tuesday,  4  p.  M.,  Tobago  in  sight, 
our  course  close  to  the  wind,  making  for  the  body  of  the 
island.  Wednesday,  close  in  with  the  land,  and  most  of 
the  day  beating  to  windward  with  a  strong  lee  current. 
In  the  afternoon  off  Man-o'-war  Bay.  Thursday,  found 
our  ship  at  daybreak  nearly  where  she  was  the  preceding 
sunset.  Friday,  at  sunrise,  off  Queen's  Bay,  on  the  lee- 
ward coast,  whence  we  ran  down  with  both  wind  and  cur- 
rent in  our  favor,  and  anchored  in  Rocky  Bay  about 
noon." 

Says  an  ancient  historian,  writing  in  1666  :  *'  The  first 
and  most  southerly  of  all  the  Caribbees  is  Tobago,  or  To- 
bac  (where  tobacco  was  found,  and  from  which  it  re- 


APPENDIX.  255 

ceived  its  name),  distant  from  the  equinoctial  northward 
11°  16'.  It  is  about  eight  leagues  in  length  and  four  in 
breadth.  There  are  in  it  several  pleasant  mountains,  out 
of  which  arise  eighteen  springs  or  small  rivers,  which, 
having  drenched  the  plain,  fall  into  the  sea.  The  extraor- 
dinary height  of  the  trees  growing  in  this  island  argues 
the  fruitfulness  of  the  soil.  There  are  here  five  kinds  of 
four-footed  creatures,  whereof  there  are  but  one  or  two  in 
any  other  island — viz.,  a  kind  of  swine  (peccary)  not  much 
furnished  with  bristles,  which  have  a  certain  hole  or  navel 
in  their  backs ;  2,  the  tatoui  (armadillo) ;  3,  the  agouti 
(small  mammal,  like  a  hare) ;  4,  opossum  ;  and  5,  muskrat ; 
not  to  mention  the  woodquits,  turtles,  partridges,  parrots, 
and  other  birds  not  known  in  Europe." 

In  fact,  Tobago  is  well  known  to  the  native  hunters  as 
the  abode  of  numerous  specimens  of  rare  and  beautiful 
birds,  and  from  this  island  thousands  of  their  skins  have 
been  sent  to  the  markets  of  Europe. 

It  has  now  been  in  English  possession  for  nearly 
ninety  years.  It  is  mountainous  and  forest-covered,  and 
has  a  fertile  soil  but  partially  cultivated.  Climate  and 
vegetation  are  purely  tropical ;  and,  if  any  good  man 
wishes  to  go  there  and  take  up  any  of  the  crown  land,  he 
can  obtain  the  same,  suitable  for  the  raising  of  cacao,  nut- 
megs, arrowroot,  etc.,  at  from  two  and  a  half  to  five  dol- 
lars per  acre.  It  has  an  area  of  about  one  hundred  and 
fourteen  square  miles,  with  a  population  (mostly  black  and 
colored)  of  some  eighteen  thousand.  There  are  only  two 
towns  on  the  island,  the  larger  and  the  capital,  Scar- 
borough, having  a  population  of  about  a  thousand  souls. 

The  description  of  Sir  William  Young,  written  a  hun- 
dred years  ago,  will  apply  well,  even  yet :  "  In  traversing 
the  country  I  was  much  struck  with  its  beauty,  from  the 
flat  at  Sandy  Point  [the  southern  end]  quietly  breaking 
into  hills,  till  ultimately,  at  the  northeast,  it  became  a 
scene  of  mountains  and  woods.    From  the  very  point  of 


256  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

the  town  of  Port  Louis  [now  Scarborough]  the  country 
became  hilly,  and  as  you  farther  advance  the  hills  rise 
into  mountains,  not  broken  and  rugged  as  the  convulsed 
[volcanic]  country  of  St.  Vincent,  but  regular  although 
steep,  and  on  an  enlarged  scale  of  ascent  and  descent. 
The  scene  of  Nature  is  on  an  extensive  scale,  and  gives 
the  idea  of  a  continent  rather  than  an  island.  It  is  not 
alone  the  vicinity  to  the  Spanish  Main  that  suggests  this 
idea ;  the  appearance  of  the  island  fully  warrants  the  as- 
sumption, and  the  contiguity  of  South  America  only  more 
fully  marks  its  being  torn  from  there,  and  of  its  being,  in 
old  times,  the  southern  point  or  promontory  of  the  vast 
Bay  of  Mexico." 

Here  we  find  the  substance  of  Humboldt's  and  Kings- 
ley's  statements,  before  either  of  them  ever  looked  upon 
the  West  Indies.  Tobago  lies  in  N.  latitude  11°  0',  longi- 
tude W.  60°  46'.  It  expands  nearly  northeast  and  south- 
west ;  taking  a  line  drawn  through  its  center  longitudi- 
nally, as  an  index  of  its  bearing,  it  is  thirty-two  miles  long 
and  from  six  to  nine  broad.  "  With  the  exception  of  seven 
miles  of  level  land,  now  covered  with  wood,  Tobago  shows 
generally  a  surface  broken  and  rumpled  by  alternate 
stretches  of  steep  hills  and  deep  and  narrow  ravines,  shoot- 
ing direct  or  winding  from  the  main  or  dorsal  ridge  of  the 
mountain,  and  from  these  branches,  as  though  torn  off, 
stand  occasionally  aloof  beautiful  mounds  of  isolated  hills. 
Utmost  height  of  the  mountain  range  computed  at  eighteen 
hundred  feet.  The  island  is  well  watered  by  rivulets  and 
streams.  A  belt  of  cultivation  extends  halfway  round  its 
southern,  eastern,  and  western  sides." 


THE 

LIFE 

And  Strange  Surprizing 

ADVENTURES 

ROBINSON  CRUSOE, 

Of   TORIC,  Mariner: 

Who  lived  eight  and  twenty  Years  all  alone  in 
an  un-inhabicedlfland  on  the  Coaft  of  America, 
near  the  Mouth  of  the  Great  River  o(Oroonoque ; 

Having  been  caft  on  Shore  by  Shipwreck,  where- 
in all  the  Men  periihed  but  himfelf. 

With  an   ACCOUNT  how  he  was  at  laft  as 
ftrangely  dcliver'd  by  Pyrates. 

JVritten  by  Himfelf. 


W^t  ^l;(ro  (lEDition* 


LONDON:  Printed  for  W.  T aylor  at  the 
Ship  in  Paler- Nojler-Row.     Mdccxix. 


Title-page  of  "  Crusoe." 
257 


258  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


THE  NAME  OF  CRUSOE. 

"...  It  was  stated  some  time  since,  in  a  magazine, 
that  Defoe  first  met  with  the  name  '  Robinson  Crusoe  '  on 
a  tombstone  in  a  graveyard,  at  Lynn  Regis.  .  .  .  During 
the  war  between  France  and  Great  Britain,  in  the  early 
part  of  the  present  century,  John  Crusoe,  of  Lynn  Regis, 
was  in  the  navy,  and  participated  in  the  glorious  action  of 
Trafalgar.  In  1815  he  emigrated  to  Fayetteville,  N.  C, 
where  he  resided  many  years.  A  diary  of  his  voyages  in 
his  own  handwriting  is  in  existence,  and  gives  evidence  of 
scholarship  and  a  mind  of  more  than  ordinary  caliber. 
In  1835  he  visited  Europe,  and  his  diary  is  filled  with  in- 
teresting evidences  of  his  journey.  His  grandchildren  are 
now,  and  have  been  for  some  years,  highly  esteemed  resi- 
dents of  Versailles  (?),  United  States,  and  one  of  them  bears 
the  name  of  Robinson  Du  Bretz  Crusoe.  From  this  gen- 
tleman we  learn  that  Robinson  has  always  been  a  family 
name  with  his  people,  and  this  is  confirmed  by  the  diary 
of  Captain  Crusoe,  who  speaks  of  a  nephew  named  Robin- 
son, whom  he  saw  on  a  visit  to  Lynn  Regis  in  1835." — 
From  Bow  Bells,  London,  October,  1877.    Evidently  copied. 


IN  DEFENSE  OF  SELKIRK. 

PERHAPS  APOCRYPHAL. 

"  What  I  am  to  tell  you  about  Robinson  Crusoe  I  had 
from  my  father,  who  had  it  from  his  father,  who  saw  it 
himself ;  and  what  is  more,  you  will  find  it  confirmed  in 
the  official  logbook  of  the  voyage ;  for,  after  I  heard  the 
yarn  told  in  the  family  circle,  I  took  the  trouble  to  see  if 
it  conformed  with  the  account  given  by  the  voyagers  to 
the  Government. 

*'  My  grandfather  shipped  for  a  privateering  voyage  to 
the  South  Seas,  in  1703.    The  vessel  was  the  Cinque  Ports, 


APPENDIX.  259 

a  galley,  mounting  sixteen  guns  and  carrying  sixty -three 
men,  commanded  by  Captain  Pickering.  The  crew  was 
chiefly  Irish  and  Scotch,  and  among  the  latter  was  a 
chap  named  Alexander  Selkirk,  from  Largo,  county  of 
Fife. 

"  While  upon  the  coast  of  Brazil  the  Cinque  Ports  lost 
her  commander,  and  the  first  mate,  Stradling,  was  ap- 
pointed in  his  place.  In  January,  1704,  they  doubled  Cape 
Horn  and  bore  away  for  the  island  of  Juan  Fernandez, 
which  was  the  place  of  rendezvous  they  had  agreed  upon, 
and  which  several  of  the  men  on  board  had  visited  before. 
They  arrived  at  Juan  Fernandez  in  March,  and  the  vessel 
being  somewhat  leaky  they  determined  to  beach  and  calk 
her.  With  this  view  her  guns  and  stores  were  hoisted 
out,  and  tents  erected  to  accommodate  the  ship's  company. 
After  the  vessel  was  repaired  and  preparations  were  being 
made  to  resume  the  cruise,  two  French  men-of-war  hove 
in  sight,  heading  for  the  port,  and  as  our  vessel  was  no 
better  than  a  pirate  and  would  assuredly  have  been  cap- 
tured and  the  crew  condemned  to  the  galleys  had  they  re- 
mained, she  slipped  her  cables  and  ran  away,  leaving  on 
shore  three  of  the  crew,  who  were  employed  at  some  dis- 
tance from  the  port  in  getting  wood  and  water.  Of  these 
three  men  my  grandfather  was  one,  and  Alexander  Sel- 
kirk another.  The  third  man  was  Irish,  and  belonged  to 
Kinsale. 

'*  They  remained  on  this  island  for  six  months,  during 
which  time  they  explored  every  part  of  it,  and  became 
convinced  of  its  delightful  climate  and  abundant  resources. 
Selkirk,  it  seems,  had  made  up  his  mind  to  remain  even 
before  they  were  left  on  the  island.  In  view  of  this  re- 
solve he  had  pilfered  many  articles  from  the  ship  while 
she  was  undergoing  repairs,  and  had  hidden  them  in  the 
sand.  Some  of  these  he  would  bring  forth  when  their 
necessities  urged,  but  as  he  had  many  hiding  places  they 
never  could  force  him  to  disclose  his  whole  stock. 


260  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

"  In  October  the  Cinque  Ports  entered  the  harbor  and 
took  them  on  board  again  ;  when  Selkirk,  having  been 
caught  in  pilfering,  Captain  Stradling  suddenly  put  him 
ashore  and  declared  he  should  never  enter  the  vessel  again. 
Accordingly,  the  vessel  sailed  without  him,  nobody  re- 
gretting his  loss,  for  he  had  been  boatswain  of  the  ship 
and  was  of  surly  humor.  Before  the  vessel  sailed  he  was 
furnished  with  abundance  of  provision. 

''  In  August,  1708,  my  grandfather  enlisted  in  another 
expedition  to  the  South  Seas,  this  time  under  royal  author- 
ity. The  commander's  name  was  Rogers,  the  first  lieuten- 
ant Courtney,  and  the  second  lieutenant  a  certain  Dr. 
Thomas  Dover,  a  physician  well  known  as  the  inventor  of 
Dover's  powders.     All  three  had  shares  in  the  expedition. 

"  After  making  the  Brazils  and  rounding  Cape  Horn 
they  bore  away  for  Juan  Fernandez,  where  they  arrived 
on  February  1,  1709,  and  after  coming  to  an  anchor  sent  a 
boat  ashore  for  fresh  water.  In  a  short  time  she  returned, 
not  only  with  the  water,  but  a  supply  of  crawfish  and  a 
man  clothed  in  goatskins,  whose  looks  were  as  wild  as  his 
attire  was  uncouth.  This  proved  to  be  no  other  than 
Alexander  Selkirk,  whom  Captain  Stradling  had  left  on 
the  island  four  years  and  four  months  previously,  and  who 
might  have  got  away  on  several  occasions  when  ships 
touched  there,  but  that  he  preferred  to  remain.  Having 
at  length  resolved  to  leave  it,  he  availed  himself  of  our 
arrival,  and  removed  his  effects  on  board  the  Duke,  of 
which  he  was  appointed  mate. 

"When  abandoned  to  his  fate  he  had  with  him  his 
clothes  and  bedding,  firearms,  ammunition,  tools,  cooking 
utensils,  farming  implements,  mathematical  instruments, 
books,  provisions,  and  an  old  anchor  and  cable,  which  the 
Cinque  Ports  had  abandoned  on  the  beach.  He  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  island,  having  roamed  it  for  six 
months  before  he  was  left  upon  it,  and  already  had  a  vege- 
table garden  in  a  forward  state  of  cultivation.    There  were 


APPENDIX.  261 

plenty  of  goats  on  the  island,  plenty  of  trees,  plenty  of  shell- 
fish, and  plenty  of  fresh  water.  The  climate  is  so  favor- 
able that  the  trees  and  grass  preserve  a  perpetual  verdure. 
The  winter  ends  in  June  or  July.  The  hottest  season  is 
in  January.  There  is  but  little  frost  or  snow.  The  rainy 
season  lasts  from  August  to  April,  the  heavy  rains  from 
November  to  March.  There  is  no  venomous  or  savage 
creature  in  the  place — indeed,  no  large  quadruped  except 
goats.  During  Selkirk's  stay  upon  the  island  he  killed 
five  hundred  goats  for  food  and  skins — this  was  an  aver- 
age of  about  one  to  every  three  days.  He  also  caught  five 
hundred  more  for  diversion  and  marked  them  on  the  ear, 
then  set  them  at  liberty.  His  method  of  catching  them 
was  by  his  superior  swiftness  of  foot.  To  test  this  he  was 
matched  one  day  against  a  bulldog  from  the  Duke,  when 
he  outstripped  both  the  dog  and  the  wild  goats  they  were 
pursuing.  This  was  before  Captain  Rogers's  ship  left  the 
island.  Selkirk  built  two  huts  of  pimento  wood,  covered 
with  long  grass  and  lined  with  goatskins  in  place  of  lath 
and  plaster.  These  were  visited  by  most  of  us,  although 
the  way  was  so  rugged  and  intricate  that  we  reached  them 
with  great  difiiculty.  So  far  was  Selkirk  from  being  anx- 
ious to  leave  the  island,  that  he  built  his  residence  where 
it  could  scarcely  hope  to  be  seen  and  where  no  one  could 
have  penetrated  without  his  guidance.  During  his  soli- 
tude several  Spanish  ships  put  into  the  port,  but  he  never 
went  near  them,  for  fear  they  might  condemn  him  to  the 
slavery  of  the  gold  mines  in  Chili,  which,  he  said,  was 
worse  than  hanging,  for  it  was  perpetual  labor  with  in- 
sufficient food,  and  no  escape  but  a  slow  and  loathsome 
death.  One  of  these  parties  of  Spaniards  saw  and  pursued 
him,  but  he  managed  to  escape  and  hide  himself  in  a  tree. 
Presently  they  came  and  sat  down  at  the  foot  of  this  same 
tree,  but  did  not  discover  him  and  soon  went  away. 

"  One  day  in  pursuing  a  goat  he  overtook  his  prey  on 
the  verge  of  a  precipice  of  which  he  was  not  aware,  and 


262  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

before  he  could  recover  himself  down  he  went,  holding 
fast  to  the  goat.  He  fell  a  prodigious  depth,  and  then  lay 
stunned  and  bruised  for  twenty-four  hours.  On  recover- 
ing his  mind  he  saw  the  goat  dead  under  him,  which  had 
thus  broken  his  fall.  He  was  so  much  hurt  that  it  was 
with  infinite  pains  he  regained  his  hut,  which  was  a  mile 
oflP,  and  it  was  ten  days  before  he  went  abroad  again. 

"  He  had  hundreds  of  cats  about  him.  These  he  fed 
upon  goat's  flesh,  and  he  kept  them  in  training  to  seize 
the  rats,  of  which  there  were  prodigious  numbers,  bred 
from  some  that  had  escaped  the  ship  when  they  were 
beached.  He  had  also  domesticated  several  kids,  and 
used  to  dance  and  caper  with  them  to  divert  his  languor. 
He  said  he  had  never  realized  how  much  he  was  indebted 
to  society  until  he  was  quite  bereft  of  it,  and  that  this  had 
cured  him  of  his  previous  surliness. 

"  Selkirk  was  about  thirty  years  of  age  when  we  took 
him  aboard,  and  was  full  of  health  and  vigor.  It  was  a 
most  surprising  thing  that,  although  he  had  kept  up  his 
acquaintance  with  the  English  language  by  reading  over 
and  over  the  several  books  he  had  by  him,  he  could  scarce 
speak  it  when  we  found  him.  He  understood  very  well 
what  he  read,  but  gathered  with  difficulty  that  w  hich  we 
spoke  to  him.  A  better  sailor  than  Selkirk  never  trod  a 
plank,  and,  before  he  returned  to  England  he  wrote  down 
all  his  adventures  in  a  logbook,  and  had  great  hopes  of 
making  a  fortune  by  them  when  he  got  safe  at  home  and 
could  sell  them  to  some  bookseller.  On  the  10th  of  Janu- 
ary we  left  Puerto  Seguro  and  sailed  for  the  Dutch  East 
Indies,  and  so  around  the  world  to  England,  which  we 
only  reached  in  October,  1711. 

"By  this  time  Selkirk  was  fully  recovered  of  his 
wound,  and  going  up  to  London  he  made  the  acquaintance 
of  a  fellow  some  ten  years  his  senior,  who  had  once  been  a 
hosier,  by  the  name  of  Daniel  Foe,  but  who  was  now  a 
penny-a-liner  for  small  newspapers,  with  the  pompous 


Providence  Difplay'd, 

Or  a  very  Surprizing  

ACCOUNT 

OF    ONE 

Mr.  Alexander  Selkirk, 

Ma^:er  of  a  Merchant-Man  call'd  the  Cinques- 
Ports  J  who  Dreaming  that  the  Ship  would 
foon  after  be  loil,  he  defired  to  be  left  on 
a  Dcfolate  Ifland  in  chc  South-Seas,  where 
he  liv'd  Four  Years  and  Four  Months,  with- 
out feeing  chc  Face  of  Man,  the  Ship  be- 
ing afterwards  caft  away  as  he  Dreamed. 
AS   A  L  s  o^ 

How  he  came  afccrwardjs  co  be  miraculoufly  Prefcrv'd 
and  Redeemed  from  that  fatal  Place,  by  Two  Brifiol 
Privateers,  call'd  the  Duke  and  Dutchefi;  that  took 
chc  Rich  Aquapulco  Ship  worth  One  Hundred  Tunn 
of  Gold,  and  brought  it  to  England. 
To  which  is  added. 

An  Account  of  his  Life  and  Convcrfation,  Birth,  and 
Education.  His  Defcription  of  the  Ifland  where  he 
was  caft;  how  he  (ubfiftcd  5  the  feveral  (Irange 
Things  he  faw,  and  how  he  us'd  to  fpend  his  Tinw. 
With  Ibmc  Pious  Ejaculations  that  he  ufcd,  Com* 
pos'd  during  his  Melancholy  Refidence  there. 

Written  ly  his  own  Handy  and  attejied  by  mcfi  of  the 
Eminent  Merchants  upon  the  Royal  Exchangb. 

London:  Printed  by  J.Read^in  White-Fryers,  ijix* 

Title-page  of  Selkirk's  Journal,  1712. 
263 


264  CR[JSOE»S  ISLAND. 

title  of  Defoe.  He  had  formerly  sold  stockings  in  Free- 
man's Court,  Cornhill,  and  becoming  bankrupt  had  gone 
to  writing  squibs.  This  fellow  ingratiated  himself  with 
Selkirk  to  such  purpose  that  they  made  a  bargain  to  pub- 
lish the  latter's  adventures  in  Juan  Fernandez,  Selkirk  to 
furnish  the  materials,  Foe  or  Defoe  to  prepare  them  for 
publication,  and  each  to  derive  an  equal  benefit  from  the 
publication.  But  Defoe,  instead  of  carrying  out  this  com- 
pact in  honest,  good  faith,  made  Selkirk  repeat  his  story 
over  and  over,  until  he  got  it  by  heart,  and  then  wrote  it 
down  himself  in  private. 

"  So  ill  did  he  this,  and  with  such  ignorance  of  the 
facts,  that  he  first  strips  Robinson  Crusoe  of  all  his  clothes, 
then  makes  him  swim  ashore  with  his  pockets  full  of 
biscuits.  He  then  weeps  over  the  loss  of  his  clothes,  which 
are  washed  away  by  the  tide,  knowing  all  the  while  that 
he  possessed  a  chest  full  of  other  clothes.  He  sees  the 
goat's  eyes  in  a  cave,  which,  albeit,  is  pitch  dark.  The 
Spaniards  give  the  imaginary  Friday's  father  an  agree- 
ment in  writing,  albeit  they  possess  neither  ink  nor  paper. 
Friday  is  well  acquainted  with  the  habits  of  bears,  albeit 
bears  were  never  seen  in  these  parts.  Indeed,  one  might 
write  a  book  full  of  the  inaccuracies  of  this  tale. 

'*  After  writing  out  Selkirk's  story,  Defoe  sold  it  to  a 
publisher,  and  it  proved  to  be  so  diverting  as  at  once  to 
make  his  fortune.  He  who  had  so  long  been  poor  and 
miserable,  a  low  retainer  at  taverns  and  a  hired  spy,  now 
bought  him  a  fine  house  at  Stoke  Newington  and  set  up 
for  a  gentleman,  with  horses  and  stables  and  a  pleasure 
ground.  When  Selkirk  visited  this  place  to  demand  a 
share  of  what  he  had  been  promised  he  was  repulsed." 

"  From  the  faithful  and  minute  records  kept  in  the  old 
church  at  Largo,  in  county  Fife,  Scotland,"  says  another 
writer,  "  it  is  known  that  Alexander  Selkirk,  or  '  Selcraig ' 
— as  the  name  was  originally  spelled — was  born  in  1676  ; 
and  that  he  was  the  son  of  John  Selcraig,  the  village  shoe- 


APPENDIX.  265 

maker.  The  fact  that  lie  was  the  seventh  son  bom  to  his 
parents,  without  an  intervening  daughter,  is  believed  to 
have  exerted  no  little  influence  upon  the  famous  adven- 
turer's life,  for  the  leniency  and  partiality  which  his  moth- 
er exercised  toward  him  was,  no  doubt,  in  part  the  result 
of  her  belief  in  the  old  Scottish  superstition  which  held 
that  a  seventh  son,  born  in  an  unbroken  succession  of 
male  children,  was  destined  to  achieve  both  fame  and 
wealth. 

"  The  constant  sight  of  the  ships  in  Largo  Bay,  and  a 
familiarity  with  the  sailors  who  came  ashore,  naturally 
turned  the  thoughts  and  expectations  of  the  shoemaker's 
son  in  the  direction  of  the  sea,  and,  while  attending  the 
village  school,  he  took  up  the  study  of  navigation  and 
made  no  little  progress  in  its  mastery.  His  ambition  in 
this  direction  probably  received  a  needless  stimulus  by  re- 
flecting upon  the  fame  which  had  been  won  by  Sir  Andrew 
Wood,  the  hero  of  Largo,  who  became  one  of  the  most 
noted  admirals  of  his  day. 

"  Much  against  his  desire,  Alexander  was  kept  in  his 
father's  shop  until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age,  when  an 
inability  or  failure  to  control  his  merriment  in  church 
turned  the  whole  course  of  his  career.  For  this  undigni- 
fied misdemeanor  he  was  cited  to  appear  before  the  '  Kirk 
Session,'  August  25,  1695.  Two  days  later  the  following 
entry  was  made  in  the  kirk  record  :  '  Alexander  Selcraig 
called  out ;  did  not  appear,  having  gone  to  sea.  Continued 
until  his  return.' 

"  Six  years  passed  before  the  session  had  an  opportunity 
to  complete  its  business  with  the  young  truant,  and  his 
return  would  probably  have  been  unnoticed  by  that  body 
had  he  not  become  involved  in  a  quarrel  with  his  brothers, 
for  which  he  suffered  a  severe  humiliation.  His  punish- 
ment is  described  in  the  church  records  of  November  30, 
1701,  as  follows  : 

" '  Alexander  Selcraig,  according  to  the  session's  ap- 
19 


266  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

pointment,  compeared  before  the  pulpit,  and  made  ac- 
knowledgment of  his  sin  in  disagreeing  with  his  brothers, 
and  was  rebuked  in  the  face  of  the  congregation  for  it, 
and  promised  amendment  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord,  and 
so  was  dismissed.' 

"  With  the  spring  of  1702  began  the  real  career  of  the 
famous  adventurer,  who  joined  the  buccaneering  expe- 
dition of  William  Dampier  as  sailing  master  of  the  Cinque 
Ports." 

His  subsequent  adventures  have  been  narrated  in  the 
preceding  pages. 

"  It  was  not  until  October,  1711,  that  Selkirk  reached 
England,  as  a  long  and  very  successful  cruise  under  Cap- 
tain Rogers  had  occupied  him  in  the  meantime.  His 
share  from  the  booty  valued  at  a  hundred  and  seventy 
thousand  pounds,  which  the  expedition  captured  from  the 
Spaniards,  was  eight  hundred  pounds.  This  sum  was,  at 
that  time,  regarded  as  a  substantial  fortune.  The  follow- 
ing spring  found  Selkirk  in  the  guise  of  a  richly  dressed 
stranger  sitting  in  a  back  seat  of  the  little  Largo  kirk,  in 
which  he  had  suffered  such  humiliation  at  the  hands  of 
the  session,  some  nine  years  before.  He  had  been  to  the 
old  shoemaker's  home,  and  finding  no  one  within,  had 
rightly  concluded  that  his  aged  parents  had  gone  to 
church.  All  eyes  were  fastened  upon  him,  and  before  the 
service  was  over  his  mother  startled  the  congregation 
with  the  cry :  *  It's  Sandie  !  it's  Sandie  ! '  A  moment  later 
she  was  in  the  arms  of  the  returned  prodigal. 

"  He  made  a  brave  attempt  to  settle  down  in  his  native 
village,  but  he  constantly  shunned  all  human  society, 
dwelt  in  a  cave  which  he  constructed  in  a  cliff  back  of  the 
old  family  home,  and  perpetually  sighed  for  the  peace  and 
solitude  of  his  island.  He  was  much  given  to  long  sailing 
excursions  to  Kingscraig  Point  and  rambles  through  the 
lonely  valley  of  Keil's  Den. 

"In  the  course  of  the  latter  he  met  Sophia  Bruce,  a 


APPENDIX.  267 

young  shepherdess,  and  suddenly  startled  his  people  by  an 
unannounced  departure  with  her  for  London.  He  went 
to  sea  in  1717,  executing  a  will  in.  her  favor  before  taking 
his  departure.  Another  surprise  came  to  the  Selkirk 
family  in  1724,  when  a  woman  appeared  in  Largo  to  claim 
the  property  of  Alexander  Selkirk,  as  his  widow.  This 
she  did  by  means  of  a  will  drawn  by  him  and  dated  De- 
cember 12,  1720,  and  by  a  certificate  of  the  death  of  '  Lieu- 
tenant Alexander  Selkirk,'  who,  according  to  that  docu- 
ment, passed  away  on  his  Majesty's  ship  Weymouth,  in 
1723,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years. 

"  The  Museum  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries,  in  Edin- 
burgh, now  has  the  chest  and  cocoanut  shell  dipper  which 
he  used  on  the  island.  The  family  of  S.  R.  Lumsdaine, 
Esq.,  of  Lathallan,  Scotland,  owns  his  stoneware  'flip- 
can,'  and  his  '  fire-lock '  is  in  the  possession  of  his  own 
descendants.  The  old  Selkirk  place  in  Largo  is  still 
known  as  the  '  Craggy  Wall.'  " 

To  conclude  :  The  authentic  account  of  Selkirk's  rescue 
from  Juan  Fernandez  is  contained  in  Captain  Woodes 
Rogers's  book,  published  in  1712,  A  Cruising  Voyage 
around  the  World,  under  date  of  February  2,  1709,  as 
follows  :  "  Immediately  our  Pinnace  return'd  from  the 
Shore  and  brought  abundance  of  Crawfish,  with  a  Man 
cloth'd  in  Goat  Skins,  who  looked  wilder  than  the  first 
owners  of  them.  .  .  .  His  name  was  Alexander  Selkirk.'' 

DOCTOR  DOVER  AND  JUAN  FERNANDEZ. 

'"  There  is  a  well-known  drug  called  '  Dover's  powder,' 
which  doctors  use  frequently  to  break  up  colds,  and  to 
'sweat'  patients  who  have  fevers.  It  is  not  generally 
known  that  the  man  who  invented  this  powder  was  not 
only  a  physician  of  some  little  local  reputation,  nearly 
two  hundred  years  ago,  but  also  a  notorious  pirate. 

"  Thomas  Dover  was  born  in  Warwickshire,  England, 


268  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

about  1660.  He  studied  in  Cambridge,  and  later  medi- 
cine in  the  office  of  the  famous  Dr.  Sydenham.  After 
awhile  he  settled  down  in  the  city  of  Bristol,  which  was 
an  active  shipping  center,  and  one  of  the  chief  headquar- 
ters of  all  England  for  adventurers,  privateers,  and  slave 
traders. 

"  Dr.  Dover  found  the  practice  of  medicine  *  too  slow.' 
He  had  a  love  for  adventure  and  life  at  sea.  He  stuck  to 
medicine  for  some  years,  however,  until  a  large  commer- 
cial and  piratical  venture  by  a  number  of  Bristol  mer- 
chants came  to  his  notice.  Two  ships,  the  Duke  and  the 
Duchess,  were  fitted  out  for  a  voyage  to  the  South  Seas. 
Dr.  Dover  went  third  in  command  and  was  known  as 
Captain  Dover. 

"  On  February  1, 1709,  the  ships  arrived  at  the  island  of 
Juan  Fernandez,  and  Captain  Dover  was  sent  ashore  in  a 
pinnace.  He  brought  back  with  him,  after  two  days,  a 
man  clad  in  goatskins,  who  had  been  left  on  the  island 
four  yeai's  before.  This  was  Alexander  Selkirk,  the  origi- 
nal '  Robinson  Crusoe.' 

"  Later,  the  expedition  sailed  up  the  South  American 
coast  and  found  the  two  cities  of  Guayaquil,  which  it 
attacked  and  sacked.  Dover  led  the  sailors,  and  when  the 
plague  broke  out  among  them  after  the  capture  of  the 
cities,  he  doctored  and  cured  them  with  as  much  energy 
and  skill  as  he  had  displayed  in  fighting  the  South  Ameri- 
cans. 

"After  cruising  in  the  Pacific  for  another  two  years 
for  Spanish  treasure  ships,  the  expedition  returned  to  Eng- 
land, in  1711,  having  collected  nearly  a  million  dollars' 
worth  of  plunder.  Dover's  share  made  him  rich,  and  left 
him  free  to  travel  and  gratify  his  philanthropic  instincts 
as  a  physician. 

"  He  settled  down  in  London  as  a  physician  in  1731, 
and  wrote  a  book  on  the  medical  experience  he  had  gath- 
ered in  his  '  professional '  career.     In  one  of  these,  in  a 


APPENDIX. 

chapter  on  the  treatment  of  gout,  he  gives  a  prescription 
for  the  well-known  powder  which  has  made  his  name 
more  famous  than  any  of  his  other  achievements.  It  reads 
as  follows :  '  Take  opium  one  ounce,  saltpeter  and  tartar 
vitriolated  each  four  ounces,  ipecac  one  ounce.  Put  the 
saltpeter  and  tartar  in  a  red-hot  mortar,  stirring  with  a 
spoon  until  they  have  done  flaming.  Then  powder  them 
very  fine ;  after  that  slice  in  your  opium,  grind  them  to  a 
powder,  and  then  mix  the  other  powder  with  these.  Dose, 
from  forty  to  sixty  grains  in  a  glass  of  white  wine  posset, 
going  to  bed,  covering  up  warm  and  drinking  a  quart  or 
three  pints  of  the  posset.     Drink  while  sweating.' 

"  Unfortunately,  the  Qxact  formula  for  making  the 
posset  has  not  been  handed  down,  but  it  was  probably  a 
hot  punch  made  of  white  wine  fortified  with  brandy  or 
rum. 

'*  The  publication  of  the  book  made  a  great  commotion, 
and  caused  the  other  London  doctors  to  call  Dr.  Dover  a 
quack  and  a  charlatan,  but  his  powder  is  still  used.  Rob- 
inson Crusoe,  founded  on  the  Juan  Fernandez  episode,  is 
still  read,  as  every  one  knows,  and  the  names  of  the  Lon- 
don doctors  who  objected  to  Dr.  Dover  are  all  forgotten." 

SELKIRK'S  ISLAND. 

*'  As  we  neared  the  island  the  sight  was  very  fine.  I 
think  I  have  seldom  seen  a  more  remarkable  and  pic- 
turesque view  than  the  approach  to  the  anchorage  pre- 
sented, composed  as  it  was  of  great  mountains,  torn  and 
broken  into  every  conceivable  fantastic  shape,  with  deep 
ravines  by  which,  during  the  winter  months,  the  torrents 
swept  down  from  the  precipitous  peaks  and  pinnacles,  ris- 
ing one  above  the  other,  and  culminating  in  a  great  mass 
three  thousand  feet  high,  named  the  Anvil.  This  is 
wooded  from  the  summit  to  the  base,  where  are  indica- 
tions of  its  having  been  at  one  time  cleared  for  cultivation, 


270  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

probably  at  the  time  when  the  Spaniards  had  a  colony 
here,  for  the  stone  walls  which  served  to  divide  the  in- 
closure  are  still  to  be  seen.  There  are  also  the  remains  of 
a  small  fort  and  a  few  tumble-down  shanties,  in  which  at 
the  present  time  dwell  some  forty  or  fifty  people,  who  get 
a  precarious  living  by  rearing  cattle,  cutting  wood,  etc., 
for  supplies  to  vessels  that  occasionally  call  here. 

"It  was  late  in  the  evening  when  we  anchored  in 
Cumberland  Bay,  in  twenty-five  fathoms — a  pleasant,  se- 
cluded spot,  with  precipitous  cliflPs  all  around  us,  and  a 
good  beach  for  landing  and  roads  leading  up  to  the  set- 
tlement. Time  would  not  permit  a  longer  stay  than  two 
days  here,  and  that  was  made  the  most  of.  All  the  places 
immortalized  by  Selkirk  were  visited — the  caves, '  His  Val- 
ley,' '  His  Lookout,'  etc.  This  gap  is  some  two  thousand 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  from  it  a  glorious  view 
was  obtained,  both  north  and  south.  *  Eobinson  '  used  to 
daily  visit  and  wearily  watch  for  the  coming  sail.  Here 
her  Majesty's  ship  Topaze,  in  1863,  placed  a  tablet. 

"  Hill  and  dale  were  tramped  over  by  naturalists  and 
others,  and  numerous  specimens  of  birds  and  plants  ob- 
tained ;  and  what  was  very  acceptable,  plenty  of  fresh 
food,  for  the  bay  proved  a  very  prolific  fishing  ground, 
and  from  the  settlement  beef  of  an  excellent  quality  was 
to  be  had.  At  the  present  time  Juan  Fernandez  is  leased 
to  a  Chilian,  who  employs  the  settlers  in  woodcutting,  at- 
tending the  cattle,  and  in  the  season  seal-hunting,  of 
which  at  times  they  capture  large  numbers  (some  they 
had  on  hand  they  were  willing  to  sell  at  twelve  to  sixteen 
dollars  each)." 

JUAN  FERNANDEZ. 

LATEST  DESCRIPTION. 

*  One  Swiss,  two  Germans,  one  Frenchman,  one  Portu- 
guese, and  about  twenty  Chilians,  men,  women,  and  chil- 


APPENDIX.  271 

dren,  constitute  the  present  population  of  the  island  of 
Juan  Fernandez,  on  which  the  Scotch  sailor,  Alexander 
Selkirk,  spent  four  years  and  four  months.  Seen  from  a 
distance  the  island  looks  almost  like  a  fortress,  with  its 
tall,  dark,  granite  cliflPs  rising  without  a  break  hundreds 
of  feet  from  the  turbulent  surf  of  the  shore.  Yet,  when 
one  gets  nearer  a  beautiful  little  bay  about  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  wide,  offers  a  welcome  to  the  seafarer,  and  recalls 
to  mind  the  '  little  cove '  of  Robinson  Crusoe.  It  forms 
a  kind  of  cleft  and  opening  in  the  wall  of  rock  that  lines 
the  shore,  and  slopes  gently  upward  into  a  valley  extend- 
ing several  miles  inland  to  the  base  of  the  Yunque,  the 
highest  mountain  of  the  island.  Cumberland  Bay  is  the 
name  that  has  been  given  to  this  lovely  and  picturesque 
anchorage.  Right  on  the  shore  are  situated  the  houses 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  island,  while  to  the  rear  of  the 
little  settlement,  forming  a  delightful  background,  are 
green  fields,  gardens,  orchards,  and,  in  one  word,  the  most 
charming  landscape  that  can  be  imagined,  rendered  all 
the  more  striking  by  the  contrast  which  is  ofPered  by  the 
somber  basaltic  cliffs  that  rise  on  either  side. 

"  Indeed,  the  entire  island,  set  in  the  blue  of  the  Pa- 
cific Ocean,  illuminated  by  the  setting  rays  of  a  tropical 
sun,  angry  and  forbidding  in  parts,  adorned  with  the  most 
luxuriant  vegetation  in  other  places  and  with  its  highest 
peak  rising  to  a  lofty  altitude — an  altitude  so  lofty,  in  fact, 
that  it  is  often  shrouded  in  the  very  clouds — offers  a  spec- 
tacle which  once  seen  is  never  forgotten. 

"  Many  are  the  vicissitudes  which  the  island  has  under- 
gone since  it  was  occupied  by  Daniel  Defoe's  hero,  '  Rob- 
inson Crusoe.'  In  the  early  part  of  the  century  it  was  used 
for  a  time  as  a  convict  settlement,  and  in  the  walls  of  the 
cliff  are  to  be  found  hundreds  of  dungeons  hewn  by  the 
prisoners  themselves  in  the  heart  of  the  rock.  But  the 
distance  of  the  island  from  the  mainland,  as  well  as  the 
difficulty  experienced  in  keeping  the  garrison  under  proper 


272  CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 

surveillance  and  equipped  with  supplies,  led  to  several 
outbreaks  on  the  part  of  the  prisoners,  culminating  in  a 
massacre  of  both  warders  and  troops.  After  this  had  oc- 
curred several  times,  the  Chilian  Government  decided  to 
abandon  Juan  Fernandez  as  a  convict  settlement. 

"  It  was  not  until  1873  that  the  island  was  once  more 
inhabited,  when  it  was  leased  for  a  long  term  of  years  by 
a  Swiss  patrician  named  Baron  von  Rodt,  who,  having 
served  in  the  Austrian  cavalry,  had  been  so  badly  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Sadowa  as  to  be  unable  to  continue  in 
active  service  as  an  officer  of  cavalry.  He  took  part  in 
the  Franco-Grerman  War  on  the  French  side — not,  how- 
ever as  a  combatant,  but  as  a  member  of  the  ambulance 
department — and,  being  possessed  of  a  considerable  for- 
tune, quitted  Europe  for  Valparaiso.  Being  of  a  misan- 
thropical turn  of  mind,  he  established  himself  on  the  island 
of  Juan  Fernandez,  and,  finding  that  the  fisheries  were  of 
a  character  to  constitute  a  source  of  revenue,  he  leased  the 
island  and  engaged  the  services  of  a  number  of  fishermen 
and  laborers  of  one  kind  and  another.  For  a  time  all 
went  well,  and  periodically  his  tiny  steamer  might  be  seen 
casting  anchor  off  Valparaiso  laden  with  lobsters  and 
fruit  of  various  kinds,  as  well  as  other  island  produce. 
But  at  the  time  of  the  Chilian  war  with  Peru,  which  in- 
terrupted communication  with  the  mainland,  all  sorts  of 
difficulties  arose,  and  from  a  financial  point  of  view  the 
enterprise  came  to  grief,  the  baron  being  compelled  to  sur- 
render his  lease  of  the  island  to  the  Chilian  Government. 
He  returned  to  Europe,  but  found  himself  so  little  adapted 
for  civilized  life  after  his  island  experience,  and  so  home- 
sick for  his  ocean  home,  that  he  set  sail  for  Juan  Fer- 
nandez again,  taking  along  with  him  a  charming  lady, 
whom  he  had  induced  to  share  his  lot. 

"  And  it  is  there  on  the  pretty  green  island,  far  away 
from  everywhere  in  the  most  important  of  the  dozen  villas 
that  have  been  erected  on  the  slope  leading  down  to  Cum- 


APPENDIX.  273 

berland  Bay,  that  he  has  made  his  home  for  good  and  all, 
residing  there  no  longer  as  the  master  of  the  place,  as  in 
former  times,  but  merely  as  the  most  highly  educated  and 
the  wealthiest  of  its  inhabitants. 

"  He  has  surrounded  himself  with  a  good  deal  of  lux- 
ury, especially  as  regards  books,  of  which  he  is  particu- 
larly fond,  instruments,  etc.,  and,  with  a  grand  pia.no  in 
the  salon  and  a  thousand-dollar  harp  in  his  wife's  boudoir, 
there  is  but  little  to  recall  the  cave  of  Robinson  Crusoe. 
The  two  most  important  inhabitants  of  the  island  after 
Baron  von  Rodt,  or  Don  Alfredo  as  he  is  called  there,  are 
a  couple  of  Germans  :  the  one  a  broken-down  professor  of 
botany  and  chemistry,  expelled  for  some  reason  or  another 
from  the  Heidelberg  University,  but  who  is  a  man  of 
great  learning ;  and  the  other  a  man  who  styles  himself 
Don  Eduardo  Schreiber,  and  who  had  the  honor  of  accom- 
panying Emperor  Maximilian  to  Mexico  in  the  capacity 
of  cook.  He  is  a  most  amusing  individual,  of  jovial  tem- 
perament, whose  Mexican  experiences  are  among  the  least 
exciting  of  his  adventurous  career,  and  who  now  endeav- 
ors to  make  a  living  by  preserving  and  canning  the  tails 
of  the  lobsters  which  still  abound  there.  The  Frenchman, 
who  alone  represents  his  nation  on  Juan  Fernandez,  is  a 
member  of  the  medical  profession,  a  physician  of  consid- 
erable skill  and  former  standing,  who,  being  compelled  to 
fly  for  his  life  from  France  on  account  of  his  complicity 
with  the  Commune  insurrection,  drifted  about  from  one 
place  to  another  until  he  finally  stranded  on  the  island  of 
Juan  Fernandez." 

Such,  then,  is  the  erstwhile  domain  of  Alexander 
Selkirk. 


INDEX. 


Aerial  dancers,  116. 
African  witchcraft,  192. 
Agoutis,  a  pair  of,  67. 
Ants,  procession  of,  52-56. 
Armadillo,  habits  of,  215-217. 
Arrowroot,  planting  and  prepara- 
tion of,  99. 

Bamboos,  37,  80, 137. 

Bamboo  bank,  139. 

Bananas,  wild,  37. 

Bartram  the  botanist,  in    Florida, 

75. 
Bats  and  vampires,  85. 
Bird-spider,  the,  232. 
Birds,  how  to  capture,  117. 

Cacao  trees  and  fruit,  86-88. 
Camp,  my  first,  in  Tobago,  10. 
Cannibal,  derivation  of  the  word, 
145. 

home  of  the,  142. 
Carib  family,  151. 

girl,  153. 

implements  of  stone,  148. 

and  Caribbees,  146-148. 
Cashew,  fruit  and  beverage,  185. 
Cassareep,  or  pepper-pot,  224. 
Cassava  plant  and  flour,  91. 

2 


Cassican,  crested,  22-25. 
Cedar  and  cog-wood,  135. 
Centipede,  the,  49. 
Cha-cha-la-ka,  a  bird  of  Yucatan, 

76. 
Chronological    notes    on    Tobago, 

247-254. 
Cicadse,  whistling  of  the,  167. 
Cockerricos,  birds  of  Tobago,  75- 

77. 
Cocoa  palm,  132. 

uses  of,  and  nuts,  183,  184. 
Coffee  trees  and  berries,  88,  90. 
Columbus,  second  and  third  voy- 
ages of,  144. 
Courland  Bay,  Tobago,  206. 
Crapaud,  or  edible  frog,  212. 
Crown  lands  in  Tobago,  209. 
Crown  Point,  Tobago,  206. 
Crusoe,  Eobinson,  a  coward,  12. 

as  a  hunter,  18. 

costume  of,  18. 

his  island,  3,  4, 147. 

shipwreck  of,  4,  203-205. 

his  cave,  206. 

his  great  canoe,  136. 

his  Man  Friday,  142, 149. 

finds  footprint  on  the  sands,  144. 

a  modern,  253. 
75 


276 


CRUSOE'S  ISLAND. 


Crusoe,  origin  of  name,  258. 
portrait  of,  252. 
title-page  of  his  book,  257. 

Defoe,  the  cunning  alchemist,  155. 

where  he  got  his  story,  154. 

what  his  accusers  said,  262. 
Devilfish,  in  the  coils  of  a,  240. 
Dover,    Dr.,  at    Juan    Fernandez, 

267-269. 
Drake  the  Sea  King,  267. 

Farine,  or  cassava  flour;  223. 

Fer  de  lance,  a  poisonous  serpent, 

83. 
Fevers  of  Tobago,  165. 
Fire  beetles  and  fireflies,  49. 
Flycatchers,  species  of,  125. 
Frigate  bird,  the,  71. 
Frogs,  some  tropical,  123. 

Gallinules,  beautiful,  235. 
Garden,  a  tropical,  27. 
my  labor  in  the,  94. 
Glyptodon,  or  fossil  armadillo,  217. 
God  bird,  or  native  wren,  127. 
Grugru  palms,  133. 

Happy  family,  66. 
Home  on  the  Hilltop,  my,  97. 
House-building  in  the  tropics,  98. 
Humming  birds,  curious  actions  of, 
105. 

the  sicklebill  and  nest.  111. 

home  of  the,  112. 

species  of,  in  Tobago,  115. 

in  Juan  Fernandez,  115. 
Hurricane,  the  great,  218. 

effects  of,  220. 

Iguana,  capturing  the,  188. 
Indians,  distribution  of,  36. 


Jabiru,  the  South  American,  235. 
Jacamar,  nest  and  eggs  of  the,  39. 
Jimcrack,  the  wicked  parrot,  169. 
Jones,  John  Paul,  in  Tobago.  254. 
Juan  Fernandez,  island  of,  3, 5,  270, 

273. 
J  umbo- Jocko,  the  boa  constrictor, 

80-84. 
Jumbies,  or  evil  spirits,  177. 

King  of  the  Woods,  2, 7,  33, 40, 178. 

Laughing  gull,  habits  of  the,  72. 
Lost  in  the  woods,  79. 

Maize,  discovery  of,  93. 
Man  Friday,  Crusoe's,  142. 

a  Carib,  145. 

portrait  of,  150. 

a  modem,  167. 
Manakin,  aerial  dance  of  the,  118 

et  seq. 
Man-o'-war  birds,  71. 
Mocking  birds,  song  and  range  of, 
73, 101. 

Nelson,  Lord,  poisoned  by  manchi- 

neel,  141. 
Night  hawk,  strange  actions  of  a, 

125. 

Obeah  charms,  191. 

Oriuoco    River,    currents    of    the, 

etc.,  4. 
Ortalis  ruflcauda,  or  cockerrico,  76. 

Palms  of  the  forest,  22. 
Parrot  apple,  tree  and  fruit,  20. 
Parrot«^,  wild,  of  Tobago,  43,  62-65. 
Psittacus  festivus,  or  Tobago  par- 
rot, 47,  59,  210-221. 
Pearls  and  pearl  fishing,  236-240. 


INDEX. 


27Y 


Peccaries,  encounter  with,  157   et 

seq. 
Pelicans  and  penguins,  72. 
Pigeons  known  to  Crusoe,  69. 
Pineapple  plants,  95. 
Polly  Crusoe,  63. 

Eaccoon,  capture  of  the,  67. 
Kainy  season,  opening  of  the,  122. 

occupations  of  the,  129,  130. 
Ealeigh,  Sir  Walter,  3,  90, 145. 
Eazor  grass,  tangled  in  the,  20. 
Eemora,  fishing  with  the,  230. 
Euby  humming  bird,  nest  and  eggs 
of,  104. 

Sargasso  Sea,  crossing  the,  7. 

Scarborough  and  environs  of,  199, 
200. 

Scissorstail  flycatchers,  124. 

Selkirk,  Alexander,  3, 155,  258-267. 
and    Crusoe,   chronological    list, 
249. 

Selkirk's   naiTative,   title-page  of, 
263. 
island,  269. 
journal,  250. 

Serpent,  in  peril  from  a,  78. 

Serrano,  Pedro,  casting    away  of, 
248. 

Shakespeare's  "Caliban"  a  Carib, 
145. 

Sharks,  narrow  escape  from,  15-17. 
catching  with  remora,  229. 

Soapberry,  or  natural  soap,  103. 

Song  birds  of  the  tropics,  106. 

Spoonbill,  a  species  of  small  fly- 
catcher, 103. 


Sugar  plantation,  visit  to  a,  197. 
Swizzle-sticks,    or    natural    "stir- 
abouts," 186. 

Tania  and  taro,  94. 

Tarantulas,  pests    of  the   tropics, 

51. 
Terns,  or  sea  swallows,  tamed  by 

me,  68. 
Thomas    Ned,    my    black    "Man 

Friday,"  174  et  seq.^  242. 
Tobacco,  discovered  in  Tobago,  90, 

254. 
Tobago,  island  of,  3,  6,  7,  9. 
wrecked  on  coral  reef  of,  8. 
my  first  camp  in,  10. 
the  true  Crusoe's  island,  247. 
history   and    resources   of,  247- 
255. 
Trinidad,  island  of,  3,  6, 242. 
Trogons  of  Tobago,  42. 

of  Mexico,  45. 
Tropic  bird,  the,  69-71. 
Tropical  forest,  trees,  etc.,  of  the, 

130  et  seq. 
Turtles  and  turtle  eggs,  96. 

Wallace,  Mr.  Alfred,  on  the  Ama- 
zons, 54. 

Whip  snake,  a  fight  with  the,  127. 

"Wild  dog,  native,  or  raccoon,  67. 

Woodes    Eogers,  Captain,  rescues 
Selkirk,  267. 

Wren,  or  "  God  bird,"  of  Tobago, 
127. 

Wreck  of  Crusoe's  vessel,  5,  205. 
at  Crown  Point,  Tobago,  202. 

Wrecked  on  a  coral  reef,  7. 


THE   END. 


D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

APPLETONS'   HOME-READING   BOOKS. 

Edited  by  W.  T.  HARRIS,  A.  M.,  LL.  D., 

U.  S.  Commissioner  of  Edtication. 
A  comprehensive  series  of  books  presenting  upon  a  symmetrical  plan  the 
best  available  literature  in  the  various  fields  of  human  learning,  selected 
with  a  view  to  the  needs  of  students  of  all  grades  in  supplementing  their 
school  studies  and  for  home  reading.  It  is  believed  that  this  project  will 
fully  solve  the  long-standing  problem  as  to  what  kind  of  reading  shall  be 
furnished  to  the  young,  and  what  will  most  benefit  them  intellectually  as 
well  as  morally. 


NOW  READY. 


T 


^HE  STORY  OF  THE  BIRDS,    By  James  New- 

TON  Baskett.     65  cents  net. 


T 


HE  PLANT  WORLD  :  Its  Romances  and  Reali- 
ties. Compiled  and  edited  by  Frank  Vincent,  M.  A.,  author 
of  "  Actual  Africa,"  etc.     60  cents  net. 

"T"HE  STOR  Y  OF  OLIVER  TWIST.     By  Charles 
"^       Dickens.     Condensed  for  home  and  school  reading  by  Ella 
BoYCE  Kirk.     60  cents  net. 

TN  brook  and    bayou  ;    or,  Life   in   the  Still 
^        Waters.     By  Clara  Kern  Bayliss.     60  cents  net, 

r^URIOUS  HOMES   AND    THEIR   TENANTS, 
^^      By  James  Carter  Beard.     65  cents  net, 

HTHE  hall  of  SHELLS.     By  Mrs.  A.  S.  Hardy, 
^       author  of  **  Three  Singers,"  etc.     60  cents  net. 

T  TNCLE    SAM'S  SECRETS.     By   O.    P.   Austin. 

^^     75  cents  net. 

IN  PRESS, 

CRUSOE'S  ISLAND.     By  F.  A.  Ober. 

NATURE  STUDY  READERS,  5  volumes.     By  J.  F.  Troeger. 

NEWS  FROM  THE  BIRDS.     By  Leandkr  S.  Keyser. 

UNCLE  ROBERT'S  GEOGRAPHIES.    Edited  by  Francis  W.  Parker. 

Vol.  I.   ON  THE  FARM.     By  Nellie  L.  Helm  and  Francis  W. 

Parker. 

{Others  in  preparation.) 


D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY,  NEW  YORK. 


D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

THE    LIBRARY   OF    USEFUL   STORIES. 

Each  book  complete  in  itself.     By  writers  of  authority  in  their  various 

spheres,     itmo.     Cloth, /\.o  cents  per  volume. 

NOW    READY. 

y^BE    STOJ^V    OF    THE    STARS.      By  G.    F. 
-^       Chambers,  F.  R.  A.  S.,  author  of  "  Handbook  of   Descriptive 
and  Practical  Astronomy,"  etc.     With  24  Illustrations. 

Y^HE  STORY  OF  ''PRIMITIVE'*  MAN.     By 
■^       Edward  Clodd,  author  of  *'  The  Story  of  Creation,"  etc. 

HTHE  STORY  OF  THE  PLANTS.     By  Grant 

-^       Allen,  author  of  "  Flowers  and  their  Pedigrees,"  etc. 

y^HE  STORY  OF    THE   EARTH.      By  H.    G. 
-^       Seeley,  F.  R.  S.,    Professor  of  Geography  in  King's  College, 
London.     With  Illustrations. 

HE  STORY  OF  THE  SOLAR  SYSTEM.    By 
G.  F.  Chambers,  F.  R.  A.  S. 

HE  STORY  OF  A  PIECE  OF  COAL.     By  E. 
A.  Martin,  F.  G.  S. 


r 

T 


HTHE  STORY  OF  ELECTRICITY.     By   John 

-^        MUNRO,  C.  E. 


T 


T 
T 


HE  STORY  OF  EXTINCT  CIVILIZA- 
TIONS OF  THE  EAST.  By  Robert  Anderson,  M.  A., 
F.  A.  S.,  author  of  "Early  England,"  "The  Stuart  Period," 
etc. 

HE  STORY  OF  THE  EARTH'S  ATMOS- 
PHERE. By  Douglas  Archibald,  Fellow  and  Sometime 
Vice-President  of  the  Royal  Meteorological  Society,  London. 

HE  STORY  OF  GERM  LIFE.  By  H.  W. 
Conn,  Professor  of  Biology,  Wesleyan  University  ;  Author  of 
•*  The  Living  World,"  etc. 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY,  NEW  YORK. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below, 
or  on  the  date  to  which  renewed.  Renewals  only: 

Tel.  No.  642-3405 
Renewals  may  be  made  4  days  i>riod  to  date  due. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


Due  end  or  ou  v.iv\i_i\  .  O;  >oa 
subject  to  recaii  after 


rJUL2772  61 


jkill^ 


OCT     MOTZ^^ 


S^BSBi — ilgt872 


DUE 


-MfM^- 


miG  1^989   <<g 


AUT0uiSC.9ECl9'88  IMMEDIATE- 


PEC'DBIOS 


rOV05'05"i^Pi^ 


T  Tkoi  A    «n«.  Q  »'7A  General  Library 

( TC^?q 7 «^n? A^fi  '  A  q^  University  of  California 

(N883 /sl0)4<o — A-oZ  Berkeley 


flHoo 
U.C.  BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 

llliillliiii 

CDDS3flSM71 


•ii^:>'  -^i 


OOXEY 


